How to Recover After Undergoing Vitrectomy

1. How to Recover After Undergoing Vitrectomy Vitrectomy is a surgical process that is performed on the eye to repair and delicacy retinal detachment, a potentially very serious condition that can cause blurring the short term and long term vision loss if left untreated. Although there are other types of retinal detachment surgery, vitrectomy is used for more serious cases, and works by removing the vitreous fluid in the centre of the eye to allow the surgeon to access the retina. The surgeon can then repair any retinal tears and move the retina back into position at the back of the eye, using a gas or oil bubble to keep it in place. One of these most important things to do to ensure optimal recovery from vitrectomy is to educate yourself on the procedure and to prepare your home before you undergo the treatment. As the healing process can be lengthy, it is best to make your environment as conducive to recovery as possible so there are fewer complications as you go about your daily life after surgery. Examples of things you can do include preparing meals and freezing them so that they can easily be heated up, taking care of household chores such as cleaning and laundry, settling any bills and carrying out any important administrative tasks. This way, you can focus on your recovery and have fewer other concerns to take care of in your daily life after vitrectomy. There will be physical repercussions after having undergone vitrectomy, including possible tenderness, swelling and bruising at the exterior of the eye. It may be necessary to take medication to help you deal with any pain, and your doctor will be able to advise you on what you can take and in which quantity. Due to the fact that your vision will be healing, it is important to set up you home so it is safe as possible to operate in with impaired vision. Moving furniture around so you have open and unobstructed spaces can help this, and placing your essential documents and items in easily-accessible and obvious places can put your mind at ease. It is also essential to get sufficient sleep after vitrectomy, as sleeping patterns can be altered due to the pain, the stress of surgery and the other physical side effects of the procedure. Many doctors recommend taking regular naps throughout the day in order to encourage healing of the body.

2. In addition to pain, swelling and tenderness around the eyes, many patients that have had a vitrectomy done will notice that the tear duct of the eye is initially uncontrollable, causing ‘leaking’. Having a box of tissues always on hand can help you deal with this side effect of the surgery. Stress can be one of the major side effects of any surgery, however, and taking measures to reduce this is very important in speeding up the recovery process. Make sure that you enjoy activities that help you relieve stress, whether it is gentle exercises, listening to music or audio books, or chatting on the telephone with friends and family. As you will have to keep your head down for several days in order to recover from the surgery, plan on doing your daily activities slightly differently from normal in order to facilitate daily living. Taking baths instead of showers, wearing button-down clothing and keeping food in low places will help you remain in this position essential for healing. Surrounding yourself with the help of friends and family will also make it easier to cope with the transition period after vitrectomy. In addition to doing as much preparation as possible to make life easier for yourself, do not be afraid to ask for assistance when you need it, and consult your doctor for his or her advice on how to optimise your recovery.