What is vitreoretinal surgery and what does it treat?
Vitreoretinal surgery is eye surgery on the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye, and on the vitreous, the clear gel in front of it. The commonest operation is a vitrectomy: through three tiny openings in the white of the eye the surgeon removes the vitreous gel, relieves any pulling on the retina and repairs the damage under direct view with a microscope. It is performed by a vitreoretinal specialist, an ophthalmologist who has trained further in retinal disease. Vitreoretinal surgery in Turkey is offered at eye hospitals and university-linked centres with operating microscopes, laser units and the gases and oils the procedure needs.
This guide explains which conditions it treats, how an operation is carried out, why you cannot fly with a gas bubble, what it costs against the UK, US and Germany and how to judge a hospital. For other eye care see our eye treatments in Turkey.
Which retinal conditions need vitreoretinal surgery?
Common indications are a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (a tear that lets fluid lift the retina), a macular hole, an epiretinal membrane (a scar-like film that wrinkles the central retina), vitreous haemorrhage that does not clear, tractional detachment in advanced diabetic retinopathy, vitreomacular traction and complications after cataract surgery such as a dropped lens fragment. Severe floaters are sometimes treated this way too, as a last resort.
Timing matters. A fresh retinal detachment is an emergency, and the NHS advises seeking same-day care for new flashes, a shower of floaters or a spreading shadow, because vision lost while the macula is detached may not fully return. Treatment of a macular hole or membrane is usually planned, not urgent. If you have symptoms of detachment, go to the nearest eye emergency service first; do not wait to arrange travel.
How does vitrectomy work, step by step?
Most operations are done under local anaesthesia, an injection around the eye with sedation, though general anaesthesia is used for some patients and for complex cases. The surgeon makes three small ports, about 0.5 mm wide in modern 23, 25 or 27-gauge systems, which usually need no or few stitches. A cutter removes the gel, a light pipe illuminates the eye and a third instrument works on the retina. Depending on the problem the surgeon may peel a membrane, seal a tear with laser (see photocoagulation) or freeze it, flatten the retina and then fill the eye with a gas bubble or silicone oil that holds the retina in place while it heals.
Operations take from 30 to 90 minutes or more for complex detachments. You go home the same day or after one night, with a patch and drops.
Gas, silicone oil or an alternative: which tamponade and which operation?
The choice of filling depends on the diagnosis. Short-acting gases such as SF6 and longer-acting gases such as C3F8 are absorbed by the body over roughly two to eight weeks. Silicone oil is not absorbed and is removed in a second, smaller operation, normally after several months; it is used for the most complex cases. A scleral buckle is a different operation that supports the retina from the outside and may suit younger patients with simple detachments. Pneumatic retinopexy places a gas bubble in the office and suits selected upper-retina tears.
| Approach | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Vitrectomy with gas | Detachment, macular hole, membrane, haemorrhage | Face-down positioning; no flying until gas has gone |
| Vitrectomy with silicone oil | Complex or recurrent detachment | Second operation to remove oil; vision blurred while in |
| Scleral buckle | Younger patients, simple detachment, clear lens | Can change glasses prescription; not for all tears |
| Pneumatic retinopexy | Selected tears in the upper retina | Higher repeat-surgery rate; strict suitability criteria |
Does vitreoretinal surgery work? What do the outcomes depend on?
For retinal detachment, the retina is reattached in most patients with a single operation, and success is well documented across many studies; the rate varies with the size and age of the detachment, the presence of scar tissue and whether the macula was affected. Macular holes close in most cases after vitrectomy with gas, and epiretinal membrane peeling usually improves distortion and reading. Visual recovery, however, depends on how long the retina or macula was affected and on any underlying disease, so a reattached retina does not always mean returning to previous sharpness. In diabetic eye disease, surgery treats complications but does not cure the diabetes, so ongoing control remains essential. A trustworthy surgeon will explain these limits and will not promise a vision outcome.
How much does vitreoretinal surgery cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany?
The figures below are approximate ranges per eye for a standard vitrectomy, not hospital quotes. Complex detachments, silicone oil and combined cataract surgery cost more. Private prices are shown; NHS and statutory systems fund urgent detachment repair at no direct cost, which is why many patients travel only for planned conditions or when waiting is a problem.
| Country | Approximate cost range (per eye) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €2,000 – €6,000 |
| United Kingdom | €4,500 – €10,000 |
| United States | €8,000 – €25,000 |
| Germany | €4,000 – €9,000 |
What changes the price: the diagnosis and complexity, the tamponade chosen, whether a cataract operation is combined, the anaesthesia, the nights in hospital and the follow-up visits. A package normally includes the pre-operative examination and imaging, the surgeon and anaesthetist, the hospital stay, the gas or oil, drops and the check-ups. Ask whether silicone oil removal is included and how a repeat operation would be charged.
Who is a suitable candidate, and who should not travel?
Planned conditions such as a macular hole, a membrane or a non-clearing vitreous haemorrhage can often be assessed from scans and records before you travel. Imaging such as an OCT eye scan shows the layers of the macula and is usually the first step. You should not travel if you have fresh signs of retinal detachment and can be seen urgently at home, if you cannot tolerate positioning, or if your general health, such as uncontrolled blood pressure or recent heart events, makes anaesthesia risky. People who must fly soon after surgery should discuss gas carefully, as the next section explains.
Can I fly after a vitrectomy with a gas bubble?
No, not until the gas has gone. A gas bubble expands at altitude and at the lower pressure in aircraft cabins, which can raise eye pressure sharply and damage the eye. Surgeons usually advise against flying until the bubble has been absorbed, which may take two weeks with SF6 and six to eight weeks with C3F8, and mountain travel and general anaesthesia involving nitrous oxide must also be avoided. Most hospitals give a wristband that warns staff. If you plan treatment abroad, ask about gas choice and whether air or silicone oil, which can be flown with, is an alternative; this can mean a longer stay or a later return home.
Recovery after vitreoretinal surgery: what to expect week by week
Vision is blurred and the eye red and sore for the first days. Drops prevent infection and inflammation, and painkillers are usually enough. If a gas bubble is used you may need to keep your head in a set position, such as face down for several days, which is demanding; ask for a plan and a way to rest. Most people return to light desk work after one to two weeks, though reading is difficult while gas is present. Heavy lifting, swimming and contact sports are avoided for about four weeks or as advised. Sight improves gradually over weeks and months as the gas clears. A cataract develops after vitrectomy in many older patients, and may need its own operation later; our guide to cataract lens surgery explains that treatment.
What are the risks of vitreoretinal surgery?
Serious complications are uncommon, but vitrectomy is intraocular surgery with real risks. They include cataract formation, raised eye pressure, bleeding, new retinal tears, redetachment needing repeat surgery, infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis) and, rarely, permanent loss of vision. Silicone oil adds risks such as raised pressure and corneal changes. Professional bodies including the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology advise that patients are told these risks, the chance of repeat surgery and the positioning and flying restrictions before consenting. Ask how the hospital handles redetachment in the first weeks.
How do I choose a hospital, and what are the red flags?
Look for a vitreoretinal specialist who will review your records, scans and history in advance, a hospital with an operating theatre equipped for retinal surgery, an anaesthetist and a clear plan for emergencies and follow-up at home. Red flags include promises of a guaranteed visual outcome, advice that you can fly home the next day with a gas bubble, no named surgeon, a quote with no breakdown and pressure to pay a deposit. Read how our process works and request a plan through the free quote page; the hospital reviews your information and sends a written plan and price. Eye conditions in children, such as squint, are a different specialty; see strabismus surgery.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Which operation do you recommend for my diagnosis, and why not the alternatives?
- Will you use gas or silicone oil, and when can I fly home?
- How many weeks should I stay, and who checks me after I return?
- Is oil removal or a repeat operation included in the quote?
- Can the same team treat a cataract if one develops?
Hospitals with Eye Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is surgery on the retina and the vitreous gel at the back of the eye, most often a vitrectomy. It treats conditions such as retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membranes and bleeding inside the eye in diabetic retinopathy.
A vitrectomy removes the vitreous gel through three tiny ports in the eye so that the surgeon can repair the retina underneath. The eye is then filled with gas or silicone oil that supports the retina while it heals.
Approximate costs are €2,000 to €6,000 per eye in Turkey, against about €4,500 to €10,000 in the UK. Complex detachments, silicone oil and combined cataract surgery cost more, and the hospital confirms the price in a written quote.
For retinal detachment the retina is reattached in most patients, and macular holes usually close. How much vision returns depends on how long the retina was affected and on any underlying disease, so surgeons should not promise a particular outcome.
Not while a gas bubble is in the eye, because it expands at altitude and can raise eye pressure dangerously. This can mean two to eight weeks without flying, depending on the gas, so ask about silicone oil or air as alternatives.
The eye is sore and blurred for several days. Most people return to light work after one to two weeks, avoid heavy lifting for about four weeks, and see sight improve gradually over weeks to months as the gas clears.
The eye is numbed or you are asleep, so the operation itself is not painful. Afterwards the eye is usually sore and gritty for a few days, which simple painkillers and drops normally control.
Risks include cataract, raised eye pressure, bleeding, a new retinal tear, redetachment that needs repeat surgery and, rarely, infection or permanent sight loss. Your surgeon should explain which apply to your diagnosis.
Often yes, for some days if a gas bubble is used, because the bubble must press on the area being repaired. The surgeon gives a specific position and duration, and the need depends on where the problem lies.
Many patients allow at least one to two weeks, to cover the operation, early checks and the first healing. If gas is used you may need to stay longer or travel by a means other than flying.