Vitrectomy Surgery: Pros, Cons, Effectiveness and Risks

Published on May 24th, 2024

Vitrectomy surgery is a procedure performed by an ophthalmologist to treat problems affecting the retina and vitreous. A vitrectomy involves removing the vitreous to replace it with another solution. The eye conditions this kind of eye surgery treats include diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular hole or pucker, a serious eye injury and a vitreous hemorrhage. Complications or risks of a vitrectomy include infection, bleeding, a retinal tear and low or high eye pressure. Keep reading to learn more about the effectiveness of vitrectomy surgery and the recovery process.

What is a Vitrectomy?

A vitrectomy is a type of eye surgery performed by an ophthalmologist to treat different problems with the vitreous and retina. Vitrectomy surgery is conducted if a patient has eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, a severe eye injury, a macular hole or pucker or an infection in the eye, among other eye problems. The surgery involves an ophthalmologist making a small incision in the sclera. The eye doctor may do one or more of the following steps, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology: remove cataracts, take away scar tissue on the retina, get rid of cloudy vitreous and remove any foreign objects from the eye. This eye surgery is considered major surgery that can lead to certain complications such as infection, bleeding and rarely, vision loss.

Why Undergo Vitrectomy Eye Surgery?

A person will undergo vitrectomy eye surgery to treat certain eye conditions that affect the vitreous and retina and that are causing vision issues. According to Johns Hopkins Medical, a person may have a vitrectomy if they have diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, a severe eye injury, a macula hole or an infection inside their eye.

How Effective is the Vitrectomy Eye Procedure?

A successful or effective vitrectomy is determined by the ophthalmologist performing the surgery, but will involve successfully treating the patient’s eye condition. Most vitrectomy surgeries have a 90% success rate, according to the American Society of Retina Specialists.

What Should You Expect During Vitrectomy Recovery?

The recovery process for vitrectomy surgery will be communicated by the ophthalmologist who will detail what the patient is required to do to ensure they are comfortable and the eye heals properly. According to the National Eye Institute, after vitrectomy surgery, a person will need to wear an eye patch, use eye drops to prevent infections and reduce swelling, take time off work and avoid certain activities such as intense exercise and driving.

Do You Wear an Eye Patch After a Vitrectomy?

Yes, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, after vitrectomy surgery, your eye doctor may prescribe you to wear an eye patch to protect the affected eye. They will provide instructions on how long to wear the eye patch and when it is safe to stop wearing it.

A man wearing an eye patch after vitrectomy surgery.

What are the Pros and Cons of Vitrectomy Surgery?

There are many pros of vitrectomy surgery as it can save a person’s vision by treating many serious eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, a macular hole, infection inside the eye, retinal detachment and a severe eye injury. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a vitrectomy is a process for treating eye conditions that were untreatable before. The cons of vitrectomy surgery include the complications and risks that come with eye surgery. These complications include bleeding, infection, retinal tear and glaucoma due to high eye pressure.

What are the Complications of a Vitrectomy?

The complications and risks of vitrectomy surgery can depend on a person’s existing health conditions, age and what eye problem they have. The complications of a vitrectomy are rare but according to the Cleveland Clinic, include infection, bleeding, retinal tear and low or high eye pressure. The possible complications and risks of vitrectomy surgery are listed below.

Infection: A complication of vitrectomy surgery is developing an infection. The symptoms of an eye infection include discharge or pus coming from the eye, fever and swelling or redness around the eye.
Bleeding: Excess bleeding inside the eye can be a complication of a vitrectomy. This is known as an intraocular hemorrhage. Most instances can be controlled and generally do not interfere with the surgery, according to an article published in ScienceDirect.
Retinal tear: A retinal tear may occur due to vitrectomy surgery however it is rare. A retinal tear happens when the vitreous pulls on the retina, causing a split.
Low or high eye pressure: Low or high intraocular pressure can be a risk of vitrectomy surgery. High eye pressure can lead to glaucoma, specifically primary open-angle glaucoma.

Which Eye Specialist Performs Vitrectomy Surgery?

The eye specialist who performs vitrectomy surgery is an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist specialises in eye management and is qualified to perform surgeries. An ophthalmologist also performs cataract surgery, refractive surgery, strabismus surgery and treatment for eye injuries. An ophthalmologist is different from an optometrist as ophthalmologists are trained medical doctors who can perform surgery whereas optometrists are practitioners of optometry who are trained to examine eye health and treat and diagnose eye conditions and diseases.

Ophthalmologists performing a vitrectomy.

Is it Normal to Have Poor Vision After a Vitrectomy?

Yes, according to Better Health Victoria, a person who has had a vitrectomy may experience temporary poor vision while their eye is filled with gas. In a successful vitrectomy surgery, poor and blurry vision will improve over time as the gas will reabsorb and be replaced by the eye’s vitreous humour.

Is Vitrectomy a Major Surgery?

Yes, according to My iClinic, a vitrectomy is generally considered to be a major surgical procedure. In some cases, a patient may have general anesthesia for a vitrectomy while others will remain awake during the surgery.

Does Vitrectomy Improve Vision?

Yes, one of the main goals of a vitrectomy is to improve a person’s vision that has been affected by certain eye problems such as diabetic retinopathy, a macula hole and retinal detachment. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, in some cases, vitrectomy surgery can restore lost vision. A vitrectomy improves vision as the surgery removes whatever substance is keeping light from focusing on the retina as well as removing scar tissue that is affecting the retina and causing poor vision, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Do you Need Glasses After Vitrectomy Surgery?

After vitrectomy surgery, patients may find dark or tinted glasses help make the eye feel more comfortable during the recovery process, according to the Patient Discharge Information Following Vitrectomy/Retinal Surgery by the NHS (National Health Service). They also note that while the patient can wear their prescription glasses, their prescription may have changed following the surgery. This will be addressed the next time the patient has an eye test to see what type of glasses and prescription they require.

Can Vitrectomy Surgery Cause Glaucoma?

Yes, one of the complications of vitrectomy surgery is developing glaucoma due to pressure buildup in the eye. According to the Mayo Clinic, the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma increases after vitrectomy surgery. Due to the risk of developing glaucoma, it is common practice for the patient’s intraocular pressure to be monitored post-surgery.