{"id":4644,"date":"2026-11-04T15:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/?p=4644"},"modified":"2026-11-04T16:15:07","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T16:15:07","slug":"vitrectomy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/vitrektomia\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitrectomy: how it is performed and how long recovery takes"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In brief:<\/strong> Vitrectomy is surgery in which the surgeon removes the gel inside the eye (the vitreous) to reach and repair the retina. It is performed for retinal detachment, macular disease, blood inside the eye, complications of diabetes, injuries or infection. At the end, the eye is filled with saline, gas or silicone oil. The eye usually heals within a few weeks, while vision may continue to improve for months. You must not fly with gas in your eye.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is vitrectomy?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The middle part of the eye, behind the lens, is filled with a clear gel called the vitreous. It makes up about two-thirds of the eye's volume. As we age, the gel can separate from the retina and sometimes tear it as it pulls away.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During vitrectomy, the surgeon removes this gel to reach the retina with very fine instruments. They then seal tears, remove blood or membranes, or put the retina back in place. Removing the gel has little effect on the health of the eye. The space is temporarily filled with saline, gas or silicone oil.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is vitrectomy performed?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vitrectomy is recommended when a problem threatens vision and is not expected to heal without surgery:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>retinal detachment<\/strong>: some detachments are repaired with vitrectomy, others with a band around the eye, or with both (see <a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/retinal-detachment-surgery\/\">retinal detachment surgery in Tirana<\/a>);<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>macular holes and epiretinal membranes<\/strong>, which blur and distort central vision (<a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/macular-surgery\/\">macular surgery<\/a>);<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>blood inside the eye<\/strong> (vitreous hemorrhage) that does not clear on its own;<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>diabetic retinopathy<\/strong> with bleeding or scar tissue that pulls on the retina;<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>severe injuries<\/strong> and a <strong>foreign body<\/strong> inside the eye (<a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/ocular-trauma-surgery\/\">eye trauma<\/a>);<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\"><strong>infection inside the eye<\/strong> (endophthalmitis);<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">a piece of the lens or an artificial lens that falls to the back of the eye during <strong>cataract surgery<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">When blood collects beneath the macula, a clot-dissolving medication (tPA) may be injected under the retina after vitrectomy, as described on the clinic's page about macular surgery. Signs that should prompt you to see an ophthalmologist are covered under <a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/retinal-diseases\/\">retinal diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Nd\u00ebrhyrje kirurgjikale VITREKTOMI me T plasminogen Activator +PA nga  Dr  Nishant Taneja 1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FyHFYo7ZFMU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Clinic video (27 seconds): vitrectomy with tPA by Dr. Nishant Taneja. Warning: footage from an actual operation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is vitrectomy performed, step by step?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vitrectomy is usually performed as day surgery. The eye is numbed with drops and an injection around the eye, often with a sedative given through a vein. General anesthesia is rarely used, for example in children. The operation takes one to several hours.<\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The surgeon makes three openings, each smaller than 1 mm, in the white of the eye. They often close on their own, without stitches.<\/li>\n\n<li>Using a microscope and light inside the eye, a fine probe cuts and suctions out the vitreous along with blood or cloudiness.<\/li>\n\n<li>Depending on the case, the surgeon removes membranes or scar tissue with very fine forceps, or removes the foreign body.<\/li>\n\n<li>Retinal tears are sealed with a laser inside the eye or by freezing (cryotherapy).<\/li>\n\n<li>The eye is filled with saline, gas or silicone oil to hold the retina in place.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most patients go home the same day; after some procedures, such as macular surgery, patients stay overnight at our clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">At Indian Eye Institute &amp; Laser Center, vitrectomy is performed by <a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/dr-nishant-taneja\/\">Dr. Nishant Taneja<\/a>, a vitreoretinal surgeon, using the Stellaris Elite 27-gauge system, installed at the clinic in October 2025.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"View of the retina through the microscope during vitrectomy for retinal detachment with a large tear\" class=\"wp-image-4639\" style=\"width:420px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere-7x12.jpg 7w, https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/vitrektomia-shkeputje-retine-carje-e-gjere.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View through the microscope during vitrectomy for retinal detachment. Clinic case, April 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gas bubble or silicone oil: what's the difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both push the retina against the back wall of the eye, like an internal bandage, until the tear seals (according to Moorfields, usually in about ten days). Long-acting gas or silicone oil is often used for complex detachments.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Gas bubble<\/th><th>Silicone oil<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>How it is removed<\/td><td>Absorbed naturally; the eye replaces it with its own fluid<\/td><td>Not absorbed; removed in a second procedure, usually after a few months<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>How long it stays in the eye<\/td><td>Air: up to 2 weeks; SF6: up to 4, C2F6: up to 8, C3F8: up to 12 weeks<\/td><td>Until it is removed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vision<\/td><td>Very blurry; then a line like the waterline, which moves down as the bubble shrinks<\/td><td>Blurry at first; improves over weeks or months<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Head position<\/td><td>Often, for days to weeks<\/td><td>Sometimes; decided by the surgeon<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Flying, mountains, diving<\/td><td>No, until the gas has completely gone<\/td><td>Ask your surgeon (Moorfields: no flying for 2 weeks)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nitrous oxide anesthesia<\/td><td>No, until the gas has gone<\/td><td>Ask your surgeon<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask which gas was used: the restrictions depend on this.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dr  Nishant Taneja kreu nj\u00eb vitrektomi p\u00ebr trajtimin e shkolitjes s\u00eb retin\u00ebs me \u00e7arje t\u00eb madhe\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sAat0-DIk30?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Clinic video (41 seconds): vitrectomy for retinal detachment with a large tear, using laser and silicone oil. Caution: footage from an actual operation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens after retinal surgery?<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The eye is covered with a patch for one or several days.<\/li>\n\n<li>Use the drops as directed to prevent inflammation and infection. Do not rub the eye.<\/li>\n\n<li>A gritty feeling in the eye is common; severe pain is rare.<\/li>\n\n<li>The eye may remain red and swollen for several weeks. Moving black spots are common, especially with gas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first follow-up is usually the next day, so bring someone with you. Do not drive without your doctor\u2019s approval; this also depends on the vision in your other eye. Avoid strenuous sports and heavy lifting; light walking is allowed. Reading and watching TV will not harm the eye. Time off work usually lasts 2\u20134 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Face-down positioning<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gas bubble rises. To make it press against the repaired area, your surgeon may ask you to keep your face down or your head turned to the side, for several days to several weeks. Maintain this position at all times, even when eating, walking or sleeping. Without it, the operation may not be successful. It can help to rest your forehead on your folded arms on a table; special pillows and chairs are also available. Not every patient needs to maintain this position; your surgeon will decide.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flying and anesthesia when there is gas in the eye<\/h3>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">With gas in your eye, you must not fly, climb mountains or scuba dive. Changes in altitude cause the bubble to expand and increase pressure in the eye, which can damage your vision. The same applies to nitrous oxide, a gas sometimes used for pain relief, for example during childbirth or in an emergency. Tell every doctor that you have gas in your eye. If you are visiting from abroad, plan your return after your surgeon confirms that the gas has cleared (see <a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/international-patients\/\">international patients<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does recovery from vitrectomy take?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eye usually heals within 2\u20136 weeks. Vision takes longer to recover: with gas or silicone oil, it may take weeks or months, and it clears gradually over several months. You may need new glasses afterward. The result depends on the condition of the retina before surgery, especially whether the macula was affected. Vitrectomy often improves vision or prevents it from getting worse, but it cannot reverse damage the retina had already sustained.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Testimonial   Trajtimi i Problemeve me Retin\u00ebn\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nDsxPbi2m7Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A clinic patient\u2019s testimonial about retinal treatment (2 minutes).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the risks of vitrectomy?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serious complications are rare, but risks include:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>infection inside the eye;<\/li>\n\n<li>bleeding;<\/li>\n\n<li>a new retinal tear or detachment;<\/li>\n\n<li>increased eye pressure, which can lead to glaucoma;<\/li>\n\n<li>vision that does not improve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\">Cataracts can also develop, particularly in people over 50. They are treated with <a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/cataract-surgery\/\">cataract surgery<\/a> if they develop. If you already have an artificial lens, vitrectomy will not damage it.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should you contact the clinic immediately?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Call the clinic immediately if, after vitrectomy, you have:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>severe or worsening pain;<\/li>\n\n<li>sudden loss of vision;<\/li>\n\n<li>increasing redness or discharge from the eye;<\/li>\n\n<li>flashes of light, many new floaters, or a curtain-like shadow. The retina may have detached again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Can I see the gas bubble in my eye?<\/strong> Yes. At first, your vision will be very blurred. As the bubble gets smaller, it looks like a moving line; you can see more clearly above it. Eventually, the bubble disappears.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Does silicone oil need to be removed from the eye?<\/strong> Usually, yes. It is removed in a second procedure after a few months. Your surgeon will decide when.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Can both eyes be operated on at the same time?<\/strong> No. If both eyes need vitrectomy, the second eye is operated on after the first has healed.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aao.org\/eye-health\/treatments\/what-is-vitrectomy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) \u2014 What Is Vitrectomy?<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aao.org\/eye-health\/treatments\/face-down-recovery-after-retinal-surgery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AAO \u2014 Positioning After Retinal Surgery<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asrs.org\/patients\/retinal-diseases\/25\/vitrectomy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) \u2014 Vitrectomy<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asrs.org\/patients\/retinal-diseases\/6\/retinal-detachment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ASRS \u2014 Retinal Detachment<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asrs.org\/patients\/retinal-diseases\/34\/complex-retinal-detachment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ASRS \u2014 Complex Retinal Detachment<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nei.nih.gov\/learn-about-eye-health\/eye-conditions-and-diseases\/retinal-detachment\/vitrectomy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Eye Institute (NEI) \u2014 Vitrectomy<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nei.nih.gov\/learn-about-eye-health\/eye-conditions-and-diseases\/retinal-detachment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NEI \u2014 Retinal Detachment<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/detached-retina-retinal-detachment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NHS \u2014 Detached retina (retinal detachment)<\/a><\/li>\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/moorfields.nhs.uk\/mediaLocal\/s1jdmews\/retinal-detachment-surgery-_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Moorfields Eye Hospital \u2014 Retinal detachment surgery (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<p class=\"translation-block wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Have you been told you need a vitrectomy?<\/strong> Book a retinal consultation at Indian Eye Institute &amp; Laser Center in Tirana. Your doctor will explain whether surgery is needed and what your recovery will involve. <a href=\"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/contact\/\">Book an appointment<\/a> \u00b7 Tel. <a href=\"tel:+355675030017\">+355 67 503 0017<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vitrectomy step by step: why it\u2019s done, how it works, gas or silicone oil in the eye, face-down positioning and recovery time.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trajtime"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4644"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4656,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4644\/revisions\/4656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nishanttaneja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}