Retinal surgery is specific type of eye surgery. It is very different than other types of surgery such as cataract surgery, plastic surgery, treatment for glaucoma, etc.
The basic operation of most retina surgery involves a vitrectomy. Vitrectomy involves removing the inner gel of the eye, called the vitreous, to allow repair of retinal detachments, repair macular holes, remove epiretinal membranes and prevent blindness from diabetic retinopathy.
Sometimes, a scleral buckle is utilized to help fix certain types of retinal detachments, but vitrectomy, especially 25-gauge vitrectomy, is helpful for repair of the following;
- Retinal Detachments
- Macular Holes
- Epiretinal Membranes (ERM)
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Complications of Cataract Surgery
- Eye Trauma
Retina specialists are especially trained to perform vitrectomy. Most modern vitrectomy surgery is performed in an outpatient setting and does not require general anesthesia, although that decision is usually made between the patient and the anesthesia provider (with little influence from me!).
Randall Wong, M.D.
Retina Specialist
Fairfax, Virginia
