At The London Clinic Eye Centre, we offer vitreoretinal surgery to treat patients with conditions affecting the vitreous and retina. Our team of specialists use the latest therapies and state-of-the-art equipment to provide exceptional care and help get your eyes back to good health. Keep reading to find out what vitreoretinal surgery is and what to expect from the procedure at The London Clinic Eye Centre.
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What is it for?
To treat eye conditions affecting the vitreous and retina
What is vitreoretinal surgery?
Vitreoretinal surgery is a type of surgery that’s used to treat eye conditions involving the vitreous and retina (the nerves at the back of your eye which translate light into images).
The procedure can be used to treat several different conditions and can therefore be performed in slightly different ways. Overall, however, a vitrectomy can be used to treat eye conditions that may result in vision loss if left untreated and can even restore lost vision.
What does vitreoretinal surgery treat?
A vitrectomy can be used to treat:
- Diabetic retinopathy – when the blood vessels in your retina get blocked due to high blood sugar and leak
- Retinal detachment – when the retina detaches from the tissues that support it
- Vitreous haemorrhage – a leakage of blood into the vitreous (the gel-like substance in the eye)
- Endophthalmitis – a bacterial or fungal infection in your eye that causes inflammation
- Severe eye injury – such as blunt trauma or puncture
- Macular hole – a hole in the macula, the central part of the retina
- Macular pucker or epiretinal membrane – wrinkles or creases in the macula
- Complications after cataract surgery – such as infection, injury to the eye, and retinal detachment
- Floaters – when the patient notices moving dots or lines in their vision
What does vitreoretinal surgery treat?
As with any surgery, there are potential risks, though they are uncommon. The potential risks of a vitrectomy include:
- Developing an infection
- Bleeding
- Developing a new cataract or exacerbating an existing cataract
- Glaucoma (when the pressure in your eye becomes higher than it should be)
- Retinal detachment or tearing
- Vision loss or blindness (rarely)
The surgeons at The London Clinic Eye Centre have extensive experience in vitreoretinal surgery and are highly skilled in treating a wide range of eye conditions.
Vitreoretinal surgery risks
As with any surgery, there are potential risks, though they are uncommon. The potential risks of a vitrectomy include:
- Developing an infection
- Bleeding
- Developing a new cataract or exacerbating an existing cataract
- Glaucoma (when the pressure in your eye becomes higher than it should be)
- Retinal detachment or tearing
- Vision loss or blindness (rarely)
The surgeons at The London Clinic Eye Centre have extensive experience in vitreoretinal surgery and are highly skilled in treating a wide range of eye conditions.
What to expect during and after Vitreoretinal surgery
Step 1 Preparing for vitreoretinal surgery
Your ophthalmologist will provide detailed instructions for preparing for your surgery. They may advise you to stop certain medications and will give you guidelines on what you can eat or drink prior to the procedure.
Step 2 During the vitrectomy procedure
A vitrectomy can be performed under local or general anaesthesia and is typically done as a day procedure, so you can go home the same day. During surgery, your surgeon will make three small incisions in the white of your eye to access the retina. Depending on your condition, they may remove scar tissue, remove any foreign material, repair a torn retina with laser treatment, or place an air, gas, or oil bubble to help hold the retina in place. If an oil bubble is used, it will require removal in a future procedure, while air and gas bubbles dissolve on their own.
Step 3 Recovery and aftercare
You’ll be able to go home once you’ve recovered from the anaesthesia, but you’ll need someone to drive you. Your doctor may advise you to wear an eye patch for the first 24 hours, use prescribed eye drops, avoid intense activities, and possibly lie face-down if a gas bubble was placed in your eye. Avoid flying or high altitudes if gas or air was used in the surgery. Redness, discomfort, and temporary blurred vision are normal, and you may need 2-4 weeks off work to recover fully. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor your healing progress.
Vitreoretinal surgery diagnosis
To diagnose you with one of the above conditions and assess whether vitreoretinal surgery may be best placed to help you recover, your consultant may perform:
- A comprehensive eye exam – this may involve putting eyedrops in your eye to dilate (widen) your pupils so that your doctor can see your retina more clearly.
- Visual acuity tests – using an eye chart to assess the clarity of your vision.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) – using a laser to produce a detailed cross-sectional map of your retina.
- Fundus imaging – a type of imaging designed to take wide-angle images of your retina.
- Eye (ocular) ultrasound – to create an image of the inside of your eye, an ultrasound technician may place an instrument against your closed eye.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan – to create a picture of the structure of your eye. This is usually used if you have a history of an eye injury or trauma.
Our experts
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic Eye Centre?
The London Clinic Eye Centre provides the highest standards of eye care. Our team of expert ophthalmologists work in partnership with world leaders and experts from all aspects of medicine, combining state-of-the-art diagnostics with cutting-edge therapies to deliver a best-in-class service to a global audience.
Unparalleled eye expertise
Our ophthalmologists bring global experience across the full range of eye conditions, supported by advanced imaging and The London Clinic’s world-class facilities.
With you at every step
From your first appointment to follow-up, our clinicians, nurses and support teams provide coordinated, bespoke care so you always feel confident and supported.
Personal care, every time
We tailor your care around your individual needs, staying with you throughout your journey and ensuring you feel listened to and supported.
Speak to our team
Whether you’re seeking a diagnosis, treatment or a specialist opinion, our Eye Centre team is here to help. Find out more about how we can support your eye health.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.