Vitrectomy
VisionCare Devices, Inc. manufactures specialized instruments for use in the repair of retinal disorders through vitrectomy. Vitrectomy is a microsurgical procedure used to repair retinal disorders, many of which were previously considered inoperable.
Vitrectomy is simply the removal of the vitreous from the eye. Usually, the vitreous is removed through a very small incision in the eye wall using a miniature cutting device or vitcutter. Most vitreoretinal surgeons enter the eye through the “Pars Plana”, which is known as a Trans Pars Plana Vitrectomy (TPPV). By entering the eye through the “Pars Plana” the surgeon can avoid damage to the retina and the crystalline lens.
As the vitreous is being removed from the eye it is replaced with saline or another medical grade pharmaceutical to maintain the pressure of the. A “Cold Light” fiber optic light illuminates the interior of the eye for the surgeon.
Specialized contact lenses, glasses, and operating microscopes are typically used to clearly view the vitreous cavity and retina at various levels of magnification. A vitrectomy is typically performed in an operating room under local or (occasionally) general anesthesia.
