What are the Retina and Vitreous?

The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It acts like the “film” in a camera, capturing images and sending them to the brain.

The vitreous is a clear gel that fills the eye socket, maintaining the eye’s shape and adjacent to the retina.

Retina and vitreous procedures are highly specialized treatments designed to correct problems affecting these vital structures, preserving and/or restoring vision.

Types of Retina and Vitreous Pathologies and Treatments

Retina and vitreous pathologies can be complex. Our treatments are designed to address conditions such as:

1. Diabetic Retinopathy

Description: Damage to the blood vessels of the retina caused by high and prolonged blood sugar levels. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.

Treatments:

Intravitreal Injections: Medications (anti-VEGF or steroids) injected into the eye to reduce swelling and stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
Laser Photocoagulation: A laser is used to seal leaking blood vessels or reduce areas of retinal damage.
Vitrectomy Surgery.

2. Retinal Detachment

Description: An eye emergency where the retina separates from its normal position. It requires immediate attention.

Treatments:

Vitrectomy Surgery: A surgical procedure where the vitreous gel is removed to access the retina, repair it (with laser or cryotherapy), and then gas, air, or silicone oil is used to hold it in place while it heals.

Scleral Buckle Surgery (Cerclage): A silicone band is placed around the outside of the eye to push the eye wall back onto the detached retina.

3. Macular Hole and Epiretinal Membrane

Description: Conditions that distort central vision. A macular hole is a small tear in the center of the retina (macula). An epiretinal membrane is scar tissue that forms over the macula.

Treatment:

Vitrectomy: The primary surgery for these cases, where the vitreous humor is removed and the membrane or scar tissue causing the traction is peeled off.
Floats/Spots in Vision

Description: A vitreous condition characterized by the formation of flocculent particles that create the sensation of spots in the vision.

Treatment:

Follow-up with fundus examinations.
Laser procedures.
Vitrectomy: Only in specific cases indicated by a retina specialist.

Who is a good candidate?

Any patient diagnosed with a disease or injury of the retina or vitreous humor is a candidate for evaluation. The need for and type of treatment or surgery will be determined by a retina and vitreous specialist based on a detailed eye examination, including imaging tests (such as OCT and angiography).

What to expect during the process?

Evaluation and Diagnosis: Advanced tests are performed to determine the extent of the damage and the best treatment plan.

During Surgery (Vitrectomy): The procedure is performed in an operating room, usually under local anesthesia with sedation or, in some cases, general anesthesia. It is a microsurgical procedure that can last from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on its complexity.

Recovery: Initial recovery may require the patient to maintain a specific head position (postoperative positioning), especially if a gas bubble was used. Vision may be blurred at first, and full visual recovery can take several weeks or months. Close postoperative follow-up is crucial.