A pioneering centre with more than

30

years’ experience

Roughly

700

surgeries a year at the IMO

Incision of less than

1

millimeter

What is vitrectomy?

Vitrectomy is eye surgery to remove the vitreous (the gel that fills the eyeball). The procedure is also performed when it is necessary to remove the vitreous to work directly on the retina, even when the vitreous is in good condition. This surgery has enabled many patients, who a few years ago would have irretrievably lost their vision, to maintain or recover it to satisfactory levels.

When is it performed?

There are many ocular diseases that require vitrectomy, mainly retina related:

  • Diabetic retinopaty
  • Retinal Detachment
  • Eye injury or trauma, diseases of the macula, macular holes or neovascular macular degeneration
  • Secondary problems or eye inflammation
  • Pathologies related to high myopia
  • Occasionally, after cataract surgery when complications have arisen

What tests are necessary before surgery?

Before the procedure, a detailed eye examination, and often an ultrasound, is performed to determine the condition of the eye tissue. Other tests include:

  • Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): a scanner used to capture tomographic images of the eye in high definition
  • Angiography: a contrast test to detect possible fluid loss or damage to blood vessels in the eye
  • Electrophysiological test:a test that records electrical stimulation of the eye to detect problems in the retina and throughout the visual pathway to the cerebral cortex

How is it performed?

Vitrectomy is the removal of the clear gel (vitreous) from the eye. The procedure is carried out with delicate instruments that are inserted into the eyeball through small incisions in its outer wall (sclera). Some of the instruments used include: a fibre optic light to illuminate the retina, an irrigation cannula to maintain intraocular pressure and an instrument that cuts and removes the vitreous. Also used are scissors, forceps and numerous other instruments selected for each operation. During surgery, the eye may receive an injection of gas or a gas and air mixture to repair a retinal detachment, close a macular hole or correct other defects. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and lasts one to two hours, depending on the condition of the eye. Occasionally, the ophthalmologist has to repair other tissue and perform other parallel procedures, such as removing a cataract or carrying out a corneal transplant.

After the surgery

Following surgery, the occlusion patch is usually removed after a few hours. The patient may have some pain in the eye, which should only be treated with eye drops and ointment to relieve the symptoms and intraocular inflammation. In general, postoperative patients can lead a normal life, except in cases where gas has been inserted into the eye during surgery. The gas is slowly absorbed by the eye over a period of time that may last several weeks depending on the type of gas used. When the eye is filled with gas, vision is very poor. As the gas is absorbed, various uncomfortable visual effects are produced, which eventually disappear completely. While the gas is dissolving, the patient should not fly or travel up to altitudes of 800-1000 metres rapidly. If this is unavoidable, it is advisable to consult with the ophthalmologist.

Risks

The risks of vitrectomy are by far outweighed by the benefits of improved vision after surgery. Some of the potential risks are postoperative bleeding, retinal detachment, increased ocular pressure after surgery, cataracts and infection.

FAQs

IMO Institute of Ocular Microsurgery

Josep María Lladó, 3
08035 Barcelona
Phone: (+34) 934 000 700
E-mail: international@imo.es
See map on Google Maps

By car

GPS navigator coordinates:
41º 24’ 38” N – 02º 07’ 29” E

Exit 7 of the Ronda de Dalt (mountain side). The clinic has a car park with more than 200 parking spaces.

By bus

Autobus H2: Rotonda de Bellesguard, parada 1540

Autobus 196: Josep Maria Lladó-Bellesguard, parada 3191

Autobuses H2, 123, 196: Ronda de Dalt – Bellesguard, parada 0071

IMO Madrid

C/ Valle de Pinares Llanos, 3
28035 Madrid
Phone: (+34) 910 783 783
See map in Google Maps

Public transport

Metro Lacoma (líne 7)
Autobuses:

  • Lines 49 & 64, stop “Senda del Infante”
  • Line N21, stop “Metro Lacoma”

Timetables

Patient care:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

IMO Andorra

Av. de les Nacions Unides, 17
AD700 Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra
Phone: (+376) 688 55 44
See map in Google Maps

IMO Manresa

C/ Carrasco i Formiguera, 33 (Baixos)
08242 – Manresa
Tel: (+34) 938 749 160
See map in Google Maps

Public transport

FGC. Line R5 & R50 direction Manresa. Station/Stop: Baixador de Manresa

Timetables

Monday to Friday, 08:30 A.M – 13:30 PM / 15:00 PM – 20:00 PM

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