Vitrectomy Surgery
Small gauge vitrectomy surgery, which sometimes is referred to as minimally invasive vitreous surgery or MIVS, is an operation performed by a retinal specialist to treat a multitude of retinal conditions including retinal detachments, macular holes, vitreous hemorrhages, epiretinal membranes and more. Small gauge vitrectomy is a newer eye surgical operation that uses, as one would understand, smaller instruments to perform the surgery. More Information on Retinal Conditions that use Small Gauge Vitrectomy
Retinal Detachment Surgery
A retinal detachment, is a disorder of the eye in which the retina actually peels away from the underlying layer of support tissue. Initially this detachment can be localized. Over time, without treatment, the entire retina may become detached which could lead to blindness. Retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) is a treatment option to discuss with your specialist.
Macular Hole Surgery
Macular holes are small breaks in the macula. The macula is located in the center of your eye’s retina, or light sensitive tissues, and provides the sharp vision needed for reading and seeing things in fine detail such as driving and walking. Having a macular hole can cause blurred and distorted or missing central vision, making a lot of your normal tasks such as driving or reading difficult. Although some macular holes will seal themselves, saving you from the need for treatment, often macular hole surgery (vitrectomy) is required to help improve your vision.
Vitreous Hemorrhage Surgery
A vitreous hemorrhage is the extravasation, and/or the leakage, of blood into the vitreous gel of the eye. The most common cause is diabetic retinopathy. In mild cases the eye will naturally heal itself and no treatment is required, but in more severe cases, vitreous hemorrhage surgery (vitrectomy) may be required. This is especially true if there is retinal detachment.
Epiretinal Membrane Surgery
Epiretinal membranes are thin sheets of fibrous tissue that, in some cases, can develop on the surface of the macular area of the retina. A disturbance of vision with distortion is experienced. Epiretinal membranes can also be known as macular pucker, premacular fibrosis, surface wrinkling retinopathy or cellophane maculopathy. If the epiretinal membrane is having little to no effect on your vision then it is considered mild, and may not require treatment. However, if it requires treatment, then epiretinal membrane surgery (vitrectomy) is likely to be necessary as there are not any non-surgical treatment options for a epiretinal membrane.
Benefits to Small Gauge Vitrectomy
With small gauge vitrectomy surgery, the actual operation is performed using smaller and thinner instruments. This can have a multitude of benefits over traditional retinal surgery. The smaller instruments require smaller incisions that usually do not require sutures for closer. This leads to quicker surgery with more comfortable and rapid healing.
Small gauge vitrectomy surgery currently includes both 25-gauge vitrectomy and 27-gauge vitrectomy instruments. This is currently the “cutting edge” of retinal surgery procedures. The retina specialists at the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute have a wealth of experience in this new technology and can assist you.
For more information on small gauge vitrectomy please reach out to the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute by calling us at 954-741-5555 or by filling out our contact us form. Our retinal specialists look forward to speaking with you to discuss your diagnosis and options.
