Have you been struggling with sudden vision loss, floaters, or blurriness that affects your daily life? At New York Retina Center, Dr. Brandon Johnson performs pars plana vitrectomy in NYC, an advanced vitrectomy surgery that treats conditions such as retinal detachment, macular holes, and vitreous hemorrhage, restoring clarity, comfort, and confidence in your vision.
Restore Clarity and Stability to Your Vision
Vitrectomy surgery, also known as pars plana vitrectomy, is a delicate procedure that removes the vitreous gel, the clear substance filling the eye, to access and repair the retina. This surgery enables Dr. Johnson to treat complex retinal conditions, including macular holes, retinal detachment, and vitreous hemorrhage. By replacing the damaged or clouded vitreous with a clear solution, vitrectomy restores light transmission to the retina, helping you regain sharper, more stable vision and protect long-term eye health.
Vitrectomy Surgery Can Treat These Symptoms:
- Blurred or distorted central vision
- Sudden appearance of dark floaters or spots
- Flashes of light in your peripheral vision
- Shadows or a “curtain” effect over part of your sight
- Vision loss caused by retinal detachment or bleeding
- Cloudy or hazy vision from vitreous hemorrhage
- Distortion or straight lines appearing wavy due to macular conditions
When is Pars Plana Vitrectomy Indicated?
Patients who require advanced retinal care may benefit from pars plana vitrectomy in NYC, a specialized procedure designed to treat a variety of serious vitreoretinal conditions. The vitreous is a clear, gel-like substance that fills the center of the eye and helps maintain its shape, allowing light to reach the retina. When the vitreous becomes clouded, scarred, or pulls on the retina, it can disrupt vision and cause serious complications. In these cases, vitrectomy becomes necessary to restore retinal stability and visual clarity.
Common indications for vitrectomy surgery include:
- Retinal detachment or retinal tears
- Macular hole or epiretinal membrane
- Vitreous hemorrhage or dense floaters
- Retained lens fragments after cataract surgery
- Eye infections such as endophthalmitis
- IOL dislocation or need for lens exchange
- Silicone oil removal following prior retinal surgery
Types of Vitrectomy Surgery Performed
Floaters Vitrectomy
Persistent floaters can interfere with your vision and concentration, making daily activities like reading or driving frustrating. During vitrectomy, Dr. Johnson carefully removes the vitreous gel, which contains these dark specks, and replaces it with a clear solution. This eliminates the shadows caused by floaters, restoring unobstructed, sharper vision and visual comfort.
Retinal Detachment Repair
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from its supporting tissue, threatening permanent vision loss. Dr. Johnson specializes in pars plana vitrectomy in NYC, a procedure that involves removing the pulling vitreous gel, reattaching the retina, and sealing it with laser treatment or a gas bubble. This precise technique restores the retina’s position, stabilizes the eye, and protects long-term visual function and clarity.
Macular Hole and Epiretinal Membrane Repair
Macular holes and epiretinal membranes distort central vision and cause straight lines to appear wavy. Dr. Johnson performs a vitrectomy to remove the vitreous gel and peel away the thin, fibrous membrane pulling on the macula. As the retina relaxes, the macular hole can close, significantly improving focus, reading ability, and overall visual precision.
Retained Lens Fragment Removal
After cataract surgery, small fragments of the natural lens can occasionally fall into the back of the eye. These may cause inflammation, pressure spikes, or cloudy vision. During vitrectomy, Dr. Johnson uses advanced microsurgical tools to remove them safely, preventing complications and restoring a clear, calm, and comfortable visual environment within the eye.
Endophthalmitis Treatment
Endophthalmitis is a severe eye infection that can develop after surgery, injury, or injection. Through pars plana vitrectomy surgery in NYC, Dr. Johnson removes the infected vitreous material, reduces inflammation, and creates space for antibiotics to reach the back of the eye effectively. This urgent procedure helps preserve retinal health and prevent irreversible vision loss from infection.
IOL Repositioning or Exchange
An intraocular lens (IOL) may occasionally shift out of place after cataract surgery, leading to blurred or double vision. Vitrectomy provides Dr. Johnson with direct access to the IOL, allowing him to reposition or exchange it safely. This precise approach restores proper alignment, stabilizes vision, and ensures long-term clarity and comfort.
Silicone Oil Removal
After complex retinal surgeries, silicone oil may be used inside the eye to secure the retina in place during healing. While highly effective, the oil is not meant to remain permanently. Once the retina is stable, Dr. Johnson performs a vitrectomy to remove the silicone oil and replace it with a natural, clear fluid, which helps the eye restore normal balance.
Benefits of Pars Plana Vitrectomy:
- Restores clear vision by removing cloudy or blood-filled vitreous
- Allows precise repair of retinal tears, holes, or detachments
- Relieves traction or pulling on the retina that distorts vision
- Improves central vision affected by macular holes or membranes
- Enables treatment of multiple eye problems in a single procedure
- Reduces the risk of permanent vision loss from retinal complications
Combined Cataract Surgery
With PPV
When a patient has both a cataract and a retinal condition requiring pars plana vitrectomy in NYC, Dr. Johnson can perform a combined procedure to restore full visual function. During surgery, the cloudy cataract lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL), followed by a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) to treat retinal issues, such as macular holes, epiretinal membranes, or retinal tears or detachment. This coordinated approach enhances surgical precision, reduces recovery time, and delivers sharper, more stable long-term vision.
What is the Recovery Process After Vitrectomy Surgery?
After vitrectomy surgery, it’s normal to experience mild discomfort, blurred vision, or a sensation of grittiness in the eye for the first few days. You may notice redness or light sensitivity as your eye heals. Depending on your condition, Dr. Johnson may ask you to maintain a specific head position, especially if a gas bubble was placed, to support healing. Most patients regain clearer vision within several weeks as inflammation subsides and the retina stabilizes.
Schedule Your Consultation
New York Retina Center is a trusted destination for eye care and vision restoration. Led by Dr. Brandon Johnson, a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained vitreoretinal surgeon from Wills Eye Institute and Emory University, our eye center offers expert, compassionate care tailored to your needs. Dr. Johnson offers world-class surgical care with genuine empathy, ensuring you feel safe and supported throughout. If you’re experiencing vision changes that indicate retinal damage, you may be a candidate for pars plana vitrectomy in NYC. Please schedule your consultation without delay.
