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Anatomy Cataract General Conditions Retinal DetachmentMacular Disease Inflammation Trauma Investigations

There are two main reasons why a patient with diabetes needs surgery:

• Haemorrhage and 
• Retinal detachment

Diabetic Haemorrhage

Diabetes causes abnormal blood vessels to appear in the eye. Laser treatment is used to try to prevent these occurring. These blood vessels are fragile and bleed easily. Sometimes they bleed into the jelly of the eye (the vitreous) reducing vision. The vitreous and the bleed are removed by operation (vitrectomy) and more laser is applied. 

Diabetic Retinal Detachment

Abnormal blood vessels produce scarring which in turn can produce retinal detachment. To treat this the vitreous is removed and the scars are dissected off the retina. A bubble of gas may be used to support the retina. 
· There is a chance a cataract will develop in the next few years. 
· Travel by aeroplane is prohibited whilst a gas bubble is in the eye. Sometimes silicone oil is inserted into the eye instead of gas. Silicone oil can cause glaucoma or cataract. Often another operation is required to remove the oil from the eye. 
The chance of success depends upon how badly the retina has been affected by the diabetes and whether there is retinal detachment or not. Improvement in the vision occurs over weeks but can take 2-6 months to reach full recovery. On the left is a preoperative picture showing extensive abnormal blood vessels on the retina. These are removed at surgery to prevent haemorrhage and retinal detachment, thereby protecting the eye form loss of vision in the future, as shown on the right.

The membranes produced by the abnormal blood vessels require careful dissection off the fragile retina.

Disclaimer. The information provided in the Retina Surgery web site is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other health care professional. Always check with your doctor if you have concerns about your condition or treatment. The authors of this web site and St Thomas’ hospital are not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any form of damages whatsoever resulting from the information contained in or implied by the information on the site.
(Information for Patients only provides a guide. It is important that you consult your ophthalmologist if you are experiencing problems with your eyes.)

The text and images are the copyright of Tom H Williamson.