What is Vitreoretinal Surgery?
Vitreoretinal eye surgery refers to a group of advanced, highly delicate procedures that are done deep inside the eye’s interior. Vitreoretinal surgery is performed in the part of your eye where the vitreous and retina are located. The vitreous is a jelly-like substance filling the cavity between the lens of your eye and your retina.
The purpose of vitreoretinal surgery is to restore, preserve and improve vision for a wide range of conditions. The most common reasons vitreoretinal eye surgery is performed include:
- Diabetic retinopathy: Complication of diabetes that damages blood vessels in the retina.
- Floaters and flashes: Flashes occur when vitreous moves around in the eye and pulls on the retina, creating a flash of light. Floaters occur when small substances form in the vitreous or from a retinal tear or a hemorrhage.
- Macular holes: Age-related condition in which the vitreous shrinks and pulls the retina, tearing a hole in a section called the macula (center of the retina where most focus occurs), affecting vision.
- Macular pucker: A wrinkle in the very small area of the retina that’s responsible for focus, causing distorted vision.
- Retinal detachments or tears: Tears in the retina or separation of the retina from the back of the eye. Patients experience a sensation like curtains closing in on their peripheral vision.
- Retinitis pigmentosa: Group of rare genetic disorders that causes cells in both retinas to degenerate, leading to profound vision loss. Symptoms include a progressive loss of night vision, peripheral vision and central vision.
- Retinopathy of prematurity: Eye disorder of the retina that primarily affects premature babies. Because the retina is not fully developed, abnormal blood vessels can grow into it, leading to distortion and detachment of the retina.
- Retinoblastoma: A form of eye cancer that is almost always diagnosed in infancy or early childhood.
Vitreoretinal surgeries have high success rates, and patients should experience improved vision in just a few weeks. For most people, sight is either improved or restored. This is a positive outcome for those who would otherwise be left with permanent vision loss.
To learn more about vitreoretinal surgery in Phoenix, contact Associated Retina Consultants today at 602-242-4928 or associatedretinaconsultants.com.