The length of a vitrectomy surgery can vary, from half an hour to a couple of hours, depending on what’s being treated. Before the surgery starts, the surgeon will give you the choice to stay awake or have numbing shots in your eye.
Or, in many cases, you’ll be given general anaesthesia to put you to sleep. Here’s what happens during the surgery:
- The surgeon makes a small cut in the outer layer of your eye, called the sclera.
- They use a tiny tool to remove the vitreous fluid, filling the eye with a liquid that’s like normal eye fluid.
- Then, they clear out any debris or abnormal proliferative tissue in the eye.
- After the vitrectomy, the surgeon might do other repairs your eye needs.
- Once everything looks good, your eye will be filled with silicone oil, air or saline.
- Usually, stitches aren’t needed, but if they are, the surgeon will put them in.
- Your eye will be treated with ointment and covered with a patch.