During ablation, the retina ruptures and a retinal hole is formed. Retinal ablation occurs as a result of aqueous humor entering through a small hole in the retina, after which the hole expands and lifts the surrounding retina. The aqueous humor passes through the retinal hole and detaches the retina from the ocular background.

Retinal ablation is treated with an operation called a vitrectomy. As the retina is nourished only while attached to the ocular background, any retinal detachment or ablation can permanently damage the retina. It is therefore important that the operation is performed as soon as possible and any postponement results in a worse outcome after the operation.

Symptoms

The first symptoms are often just:

• Flashes, flashes that resemble lightning
• Black dots in the field of view.

When the retina ruptures, a small amount of blood may appear in the vitreous space. The condition worsens when a “curtain” appears in the field of view which results in a slow loss of the vision.

When the detachment reaches the center of vision or the macula, which can occur within 1 to 2 days, the vision

Retinal ablation can occur at any age.

A subspecialist examination is performed, which consists of refraction, determination of visual acuity, measurement of eye pressure, examination of the fundus – examination of the anterior and posterior segment of the eyes.

If necessary, OCT – optical coherence tomography is performed as well as additional diagnostic examinations at the request of the surgeon.

After the examination, the patient receives the report and the results of the diagnostic tests.

The preparation is started by the nurse, during which the vision, tonus and refractive measurements are taken again.

The patient is then transferred to the preoperative block and a history is taken. Blood pressure and blood sugar are checked. Then, in consultation with the ophthalmic surgeon, if necessary, additional diagnostics are made and the preparation ends with the dilation of the pupils.

Patients with chronic diseases, depending on the therapy they receive, have special preparations for which they are informed on the day of the operation.

Once the patient is fully prepared, he is admitted to the operating room.

The operation is performed under local anesthesia with sedation. This operation is completely painless. It lasts an average of about an hour, after which the patient can be checked out the same day.

Vitrectomy is the removal of the vitreous from the inside of the eyeball, through small white holes (less than 1 mm), after which it is replaced with a special gas (which is resorbed over time) or silicone oil, and the holes in the retina are attached with a laser.

During vitrectomy, the eye is entered through 4 small openings of 1 mm each on the white part of the eye (white eye). During the operation, the vitreous, which is ill and caused the ablation, is removed. The vitreous is then compensated by the normal aqueous humor that the eye itself produces and the eye functions normally. Once the vitreous has been removed, the “holes” in the retina are identified, and the retina is attached with a laser.

At the end of the operation, gas or silicone oil is put into the eye to hold the retina until it is completely attached. The advantage of the gas is that it comes out of the eye by itself and after 2 to 6 weeks it is not necessary to have additional surgery to remove the silicone oil. In cases where the ablation is not detected in time or is complicated and there are scars in the eye, silicone oil is put into the eye which is then removed from the eye after several months, but it can remain for a year if the eye is severely damaged.

After the operation the eye is neither red nor painful, and the recovery is fast. It is necessary to apply drops and ointment therapy for two weeks, and the eye must be closed only for one day.

Follow-up examinations are scheduled the day after surgery, 7 days after surgery and 2 to 3 weeks after the intervention. After 10 days in uncomplicated ablations, the patient can return to daily activities. During those 10 days the patient needs to rest and lie down in a position recommended by a doctor, and they can work on a computer, read or watch TV using the other eye.

The vitrectomy operation is covered by the Health Insurance Fund of RNM.

For more information contact us by phone 02 3097 000 or electronically at contact@sistinaoftalmologija.mk.

The package includes: preoperative preparation, surgery and home therapy.

There is an opportunity to pay in installments without interest and additional costs.

You can check more about the payment method on the current price list of Sistina Ophthalmology.