﻿Contrary to what many eye floaters sufferers may think a vitrectomy is
actually a very common procedure and in this video I will be explaining what a vitrectomy
really is and also the difference between its normal use and also its use for floaters
also referred to as a floater only vitrectomy or an FOV.
I am optometrist, Martin Oguzie
And this is Martin's Eye Tips
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Upload a brand new video, vitrectomy is a type of eye surgery
that involves the removal of part or all of the vitreous humor in the eyeball.
The vitreous humor is the jellylike fluid
that fills the central space in the eye and is made up of 99 percent water.
There are several reasons why an eye surgeon may wish to perform vitrectomy,
and most of these reasons are for eye conditions.
Now, here are just some of the common eye conditions that may require vitrectomy.
Retinal detachment and Epiretinal
membrane peel bleeding inside the eye or an internal injury or infection.
And this case is the main reason
for vitrectomy is really to clear the way so that the surgeon can see
the retinal tear, the whole or the source of bleeding for treatment.
Now, the use of vitrectomy for the treatment of eye floaters is
basically the same as it is for any other vitrectomy treatment, except that it may not
remove as much of the vitreous humor or even the posterior vitreous.
And also the surgery stops after the vitrectomy
has been done, whereas in the case of a standard vitrectomy,
the retina treatment then starts once the vitrectomy has been completed.
Now the term FOV is more of a modern
term used to describe the use of vitrectomy for simply the removal of floaters only.
So what's involved in this FOV vitrectomy?
Well, the individual will usually be awake
for the procedure, but the eye will be numbed
with an anesthetic that removes all pain but not the sensation of touch.
The three probes will then be inserted into the eye through a specific region
within the eye that we call the Pars Plana
The Pars Plana contains no retina,
which is helpful for fast recovery and also to reduce any complications.
So this is also why you commonly hear
the procedure being described as a Floater Only Pars Plana vitrectomy,
and it's important to make sure that that's actually what you're getting
if you are going to have this procedure done.
The first probe inserted into the eye and allows a fiber optic light to be
passed through to illuminate the inside of the eyeball.
And the second probe is an infusion probe which allows saline to be injected
into the eyeball to replace any vitreous that is removed.
The third probe is called a Vitrector, and that's there to help chop and cut up
some of the vitreous and also to help suction out and remove the floater along
with any vitreous fluid that is needed as well and your surgeon will, of course,
assess your eyes before the procedure and plan out their intended approach
to treat your floaters, including how much vitreous they feel
is appropriate to remove in order to eliminate the floaters in your eyes.
So once they've removed all or as much of your floaters as possible,
the procedure is finished, even though it's a floaters only vitrectomy
and not a treatment for retinal detachment.
For example, it's likely that your surgeon will create
a temporary gas bubble in the eye as a precautionary step to add extra pressure
in the eye and to reduce the risk of retinal detachment so the bubble will
disappear all by itself in about a week's time.
After this, the probes are removed
and the holes are created by the three probes into the eye.
I should see all by themselves without leaking, and they should completely heal
in about 48 hours without any stitches being required and you'll be given some
combination, if not all of the following medications to take home with you.
So that includes a painkiller,
antibiotic, eye drops to prevent infection, stroke,
eye drops to combat inflammation in the eye and drops to dilate your
pupils, as well as something to lubricate the eyes just to remove any soreness
and gritty feeling that you may feel over the coming weeks.
So you'll be given and advised to wear a patch over the eye for protection,
particularly at night while you're sleeping.
And you can expect some discomfort over the first few days in particular.
And after a week or so, things should settle down significantly
and the improvements should continue to follow in the coming weeks.
The gas bubble that I mentioned early on, will usually be visible in your eye
over the first few weeks and that with some of the drops
that you'll be taking will leave your eyes feeling less than clear to begin with.
And you should find that that quickly
improves and settles down as well as the weeks follow. Vitrectomy
is certainly not a trivial procedure.
It's also one that is done very regularly by vitro-retina surgeons in order to be able
to make it possible for them to see clearly.
Through the vitreous, for example, if the vitreous is full of blood or debris
from inflammation so that they can then make repairs at the retinal level.
The use of vitrectomy for eye floaters,
is traditionally considered too risky by many medical
doctors and even eye care professionals as well.
However, when you speak to vitro-retina surgeons that do this procedure very
regularly, they often tell a different story and many often consider it to be
less of a risk, in fact, than having a cataract operation.
I'll be covering more on this next time,
so make sure you join me for the next video on vitrectomy where I'll explain
why vitrectomy is perhaps not the big risk that it often is claimed to be
and why it should give all vitreous eye floaters
sufferers hope for the future.
Let me know in the comments section, if you've been put off in the past
from having vitrectomy for all eye floaters, I'd love to get your experiences
on this, so please let me know in the comments section.
Thank you for watching.
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I look forward to catching you guys then take care.