Retinal surgery

As with cataract surgery, retinal operations are performed through tiny openings in the eye (0.6-0.8mm), 3mm lateral to the iris. Using a special operating microscope, a system that stabilizes intraocular pressure, and a specialized illumination device, the interior of the eye is displayed three-dimensionally at high magnification.
First, the gelatinous vitreous body is removed. Then—depending on the condition—holes and tears are closed and, if necessary, sealed with a laser. Membranes are marked with special dyes and then removed with fine forceps. To stabilize the retina until complete healing, a tamponade substance is sometimes introduced into the eye at the end of the operation. This may be a special gas that naturally escapes from the eye after one to several weeks and is replaced by the eye itself with fluid. Or—if longer-term tamponade is required—silicone oil, which stabilizes the retina until it is removed from the eye in a subsequent operation. In cases of bleeding beneath the retina (subretinal hemorrhage), for example, a special medication to dissolve the blood clot is applied on and beneath the retina, and then the bleeding is displaced with a tamponade.

As with cataract surgery, retinal procedures are performed through tiny openings in the eye (0.6–0.8 mm), 3 mm to the side of the iris. Using a special surgical microscope, a system that stabilizes intraocular pressure, and a dedicated illumination device, the inside of the eye is visualized three-dimensionally at high magnification.
First, the gel-like vitreous body is removed. Then—depending on the condition—holes and tears are closed and, if necessary, sealed with a laser. Membranes are marked with special dyes and then peeled off with the finest forceps. To stabilize the retina until it has fully healed, a tamponade substance is sometimes introduced into the eye at the end of the procedure. This may be a special gas, which escapes from the eye on its own after one to several weeks and is replaced by fluid produced by the eye itself. Or—if longer-term tamponade is required—silicone oil, which stabilizes the retina until it is removed from the eye in a further operation. In cases of bleeding under the retina (subretinal hemorrhage), for example, a special medication to dissolve the blood clot is applied onto and under the retina, and the bleeding is then displaced with a tamponade.

Retinal surgery usually takes 45-60 minutes and is performed under retrobulbar anesthesia. The eye is rendered pain-free and mobile by an injection administered laterally to the eye. Only in very rare cases is the surgery performed under general anesthesia.

Most patients go home on the day of the surgery. However, if possible, you should not spend the first night alone. If desired, inpatient admission and an overnight stay at the sanatorium are possible.

After the operation, you should rest for approximately 1 week, avoid applying makeup to the eye for 2 weeks, and avoid unclean and dusty activities. If a tamponade (gas or silicone oil) was used during the operation, you must maintain a specific positioning or head posture after surgery (e.g., face-down position, meaning face directed downward toward the floor, or right/left lateral position)! You will receive precise instructions from me after the operation or upon discharge. Furthermore, in the case of a gas tamponade, you must not undertake air travel until the gas has completely dissipated, and you must not travel rapidly to higher altitudes by cable car. You will also receive specific instructions regarding the eye drops to be used upon discharge from the hospital and during the follow-up visit the day after surgery.

Improvement in vision after retinal surgery usually occurs only after several weeks, sometimes even months. As long as a gas or silicone oil tamponade remains in the eye, vision may even be very poor.