Private vitreoretinal service in Glasgow

At Eye Care Scotland we offer patients vitreoretinal surgery. Vitreoretinal surgery is the terminology applied to a range of highly specialised ophthalmic procedures carried out in the back segment of the eye concerning the retina, vitreous fluid and macula. Vitreoretinal surgery is appropriate to manage a number of disorders including retinal detachment, retinal trauma, macular hole, posterior uveitis, vitreous floaters, epiretinal membranes, advanced diabetic eye disease, vitreous haemorrhage, and cataract surgery complications.

You may require vitreoretinal surgery at Eye Care Scotland for a variety of reasons. At a top level, you will be considered for vitreoretinal surgery if you are encountering eye problems with either your retina, macula, or with your vitreous fluid. Our Specialist Vitreoretinal Ophthalmic Surgeons will assess you to better understand your exact problem/s and recommend the appropriate treatment plan as a consequence of this assessment. 

There are a variety of vitreoretinal surgery options dependent on your exact eye problem. Some of the most common performed at Eye Care Scotland are flashes and floaters surgery, macular hole surgery and retinal detachment surgery. 

Flashes and Floaters Surgery

Flashes of light or black floaters that resemble spiders or tadpoles are quite commonly seen by people with healthy eyes. They occur because of changes in your vitreous jelly (known as vitreous body) which lies directly in front of your retina. Any changes in your vitreous jelly can give rise to the appearance of floaters, but this does not usually lead to any problems. The sudden appearance of new floaters is different and may be caused by your vitreous jelly shrinking. This can sometimes also indicate that you have a tear in your retina.

The main surgical approach to treating flashes and floaters is floaterectomy surgery, which is vitrectomy surgery. A vitrectomy is a keyhole surgical procedure which can either be performed under either local or general anaesthetic depending on your Consultant Ophthalmologist’s recommendations. During your vitrectomy surgery, the vitreous jelly is removed from your eye before delicately peeling off a very thin layer (the inner limiting membrane) from the surface of the retina around the macular hole. Doing this releases the forces keeping the macular hole open. Finally, your eye is filled with a temporary gas bubble (or less commonly a silicone oil bubble), pressing the hole flat onto the back of the eye and in turning helping to seal the hole. The gas bubble slowly disappears after six weeks or so. However, if a silicone oil bubble was used, this may need to be removed by your Consultant Ophthalmologist. Through the removal of your vitreous, floaterectomy surgery aims to eliminate flashes and floaters.

However, if your Consultant Ophthalmologist diagnoses that your floaters are a result of a retinal detachment, then they may choose from a series of other treatment options. 

Macular Hole Surgery

A macular hole is a small gap that opens within the centre of the retina – this area is called the macula. If you have a macular hole, you may suffer from blurred and/or distorted vision, whilst it may also feel like you have a patch or a hole missing in your vision. Those suffering from macular hole are often aged 60-80, and the condition is more common in women. 

The main treatment option for macular hole is vitrectomy surgery as eye drops and glasses are ineffective. A vitrectomy is a keyhole surgical procedure which can either be performed under either local or general anaesthetic depending on your Consultant Ophthalmologist’s recommendations. During your vitrectomy surgery, the vitreous jelly is removed from your eye before delicately peeling off a very thin layer (the inner limiting membrane) from the surface of the retina around the macular hole. Doing this releases the forces keeping the macular hole open. Finally, your eye is filled with a temporary gas bubble (or less commonly a silicone oil bubble), pressing the hole flat onto the back of the eye and in turning helping to seal the hole. The gas bubble slowly disappears after six weeks or so. However, if a silicone oil bubble was used, this may need to be removed by your Consultant Ophthalmologist.

Retinal Detachment Surgery

The retina is made up of a thin layer of nerve cells lining the inside of the eye. Sensitive to light, without the retina you would not be able to see properly. 

Retinal detachment occurs when one or more holes – retinal tears – form in the outer part of the retina enabling the vitreous (the jelly-like fluid substance in your eye) to pass underneath and lift it off. This fluid causes the retina to become separated from the supporting and nourishing tissues underneath. It is also possible small blood vessels can also become damaged and result in bleeding into the vitreous which can in turn lead to further clouding of your vision. 

Without treatment, retinal detachment can lead to blindness in the affected eye/s, and as such it is extremely important to seek expert advice as soon as possible and minimising the risk of permanent sight damage.

Your Consultant Ophthalmologist will discuss your treatment options with you; however most often you will require surgery to reattach your retina. Sometimes this may be recommended to be undertaken within 24 hours or at least within a few days depending on which part of your eye is affected. The treatment options available to you for retinal detachment are as follows:

Laser Retinopexy: Laser retinopexy (retinal laser photocoagulation) is a procedure used to treat many retinal conditions.  It is most commonly used to seal retinal tears to prevent the development of retinal detachments. This procedure is performed with topical anaesthetic instilled on the eye, using a laser to create small burns around your retinal tear. This causes scarring, which acts like a barrier and attaches your retina to your eye.

Vitrectomy: A vitrectomy is a keyhole surgical procedure which can either be performed under either local or general anaesthetic depending on your Consultant Ophthalmologist’s recommendations. During your vitrectomy surgery, the vitreous jelly is removed from your eye before delicately peeling off a very thin layer (the inner limiting membrane) from the surface of the retina around the macular hole. Doing this releases the forces keeping the macular hole open. Finally, your eye is filled with a temporary gas bubble (or less commonly a silicone oil bubble), pressing the hole flat onto the back of the eye and in turning helping to seal the hole. The gas bubble slowly disappears after six weeks or so. However, if a silicone oil bubble was used, this may need to be removed by your Consultant Ophthalmologist.

Pneumatic Retinopexy: Pneumatic retinopexy is a procedure in which your Consultant Ophthalmologist injects a bubble of gas into your eye to push the detached component of your retina against the back of your eye to hold it in place. Your vitreous is not removed during this procedure. Furthermore, it should be noted that pneumatic retinopexy is only suitable for those who have a retinal detachment covering just a small area.

At your initial consultation with us at Eye Care Scotland, your Consultant Ophthalmologist will discuss with you a range of diagnostic tests and scans that we may need to carry out. These include:

• Biometry scan
• OCT scan 
• Intraocular pressure check
• Visual acuity test

These tests and scans will outline a personalised patient pathway plan for you. Each option will be presented and explained in depth in coming to the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Prices for vitreoretinal surgery* start from:

• Vitrectomy – £6,023 - £6,793

We also offer flexible finance through our dedicated finance provider, Chrysalis Finance. Patients have the ability to spread the cost of their treatment over up to 5 years. If patients choose to spread the cost over 10 months, then these payments will be interest free. Should patients choose to pay over a period of 12 - 60 months, 14.9% APR will apply. To find out more about our flexible finance, please visit here.

*All prices are per eye and based on treatment under general anaesthetic. These are just guide prices and will differ from person to person because our treatment packages are all personalised. For more information, give us a call.

Our consultants are supported by a full clinical team of optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmic practitioners - all of whom play a vital part in ensuring patients are well informed and cared for throughout their journey.

Our entire patient pathway takes place within a clinical environment, and we work to the highest standard of governance whilst following stringent processes to ensure quality outcomes for patients.

With enhanced patient pathways and streamlined consultation-to-treatment journeys at the heart of Eye Care Scotland at Ross Hall Clinic Braehead you can be confident in receiving the highest levels of care throughout your whole journey with us - from diagnoses to treatment and right through to your recovery.