Vitrectomy Surgery in India – Cost, Best Doctors & Hospitals
Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that is used to remove the vitreous gel from the eyes. In Africa many patients suffer from various eye conditions, including retinal detachment, macular holes, diabetic retinopathy, vitreous haemorrhage, endophthalmitis, and eye trauma. However, due to limited ophthalmology services in many African countries, accessing affordable and specialised eye care remains a challenge. As a result, many patients from countries like Congo, Ethiopia, and Nigeria travel to India to undergo vitrectomy surgery.
India has become a popular destination for complex medical procedures, including vitrectomy surgery. The country offers advanced medical infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology, and highly skilled ophthalmologists at a fraction of the cost compared to countries like the USA or the UK.
Along with its affordability, India provides comprehensive care supported by modern medical technology and experienced eye specialists. These advantages make India a preferred choice for African patients wanting high-quality and cost-effective eye treatment abroad.
What is a Vitrectomy Surgery?
Age, prolonged screen time, or underlying health conditions can adversely affect the retina or vitreous, leading to various eye problems. These conditions include retinal detachment, macular holes, diabetic retinopathy, vitreous haemorrhage, endophthalmitis, and severe eye trauma.
Many of these conditions can be curable through a professional vitrectomy surgery. This surgical procedure involves removing the vitreous gel from the eye and replacing it with a saline solution or other substances to help maintain the eye’s natural shape.
The vitrectomy procedure in India is also used to remove floaters or vision obstructions caused by abnormalities in the vitreous gel. It is a complex surgery that can take several hours and is performed under local or general anaesthesia.
What Conditions does Vitrectomy treat?
A vitrectomy procedure is a surgical procedure designed to treat various eye conditions that affect the vitreous in the eyes. The conditions treated with vitrectomy include:
This surgery is commonly used to reattach the retina when it gets separated from the underlying tissue of the eyes. If detected early, this condition can be treated with vitrectomy, preventing permanent vision loss.
In advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessels may bleed into the vitreous, leading to vision impairment. Vitrectomy helps remove this blood, improve retinal health, and prevent further vision loss.
Bleeding into the vitreous cavity can cause cloudy vision and retinal distortion. Vitrectomy removes the blood and restores proper retinal function.
This condition is a severe eye infection that affects the interior of the eyes. Vitrectomy helps remove the infected vitreous and allows for better antibiotic treatment in cases where bacteria or fungi enter the eye, often after surgery or trauma.
This form of eye inflammation affects the back portion of the eye and can be difficult to treat with medication alone. Vitrectomy helps manage severe cases by removing inflammatory debris and improving drug access to the affected areas.
Persistent floaters or flashes of light, often caused by vitreous detachment or degeneration, can interfere with clear vision. In such cases, vitrectomy, partial or anterior vitrectomy can be performed to remove the floaters and improve visual comfort.
What are the Different Types of Vitrectomy Surgery in India?
There are three different types of vitrectomy eye surgery available in India. The choice of procedure depends on the patient’s specific condition and the severity of the eye disorder. Your ophthalmologist will assess the suitable one that fits your condition. Let's see the different types:
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Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV)
Pars Plana Vitrectomy or Posterior Vitrectomy, is the most commonly performed type of vitrectomy. It is used to treat conditions such as retinal detachment, vitreous haemorrhage, and diabetic retinopathy. In this procedure, the retina specialist removes the vitreous gel located between the iris and the retina to access and repair the damaged areas of the eye. Pars Plana Vitrectomy PPV helps manage the posterior segment diseases of the eye.
In rare cases, the eye's vitrectomy gel leaks out through the pupil. Anterior Vitrectomy is performed when the vitreous gel leaks into the anterior chamber of the eye, often due to complications from cataract surgery or trauma. This procedure involves removing the gel from the anterior segment to restore visual clarity and prevent complications such as glaucoma or corneal damage. It’s commonly used in cases of surgical complications, trauma, or other issues that affect the front portion of the eye.
Core Vitrectomy surgery involves removing only the central portion of the vitreous gel, leaving the peripheral areas intact. This minimally invasive procedure is commonly used to treat eye floaters, mild vitreous opacities, or inflammatory conditions like uveitis. It also helps reduce retinal traction, thereby preventing retinal detachment. Core vitrectomy is less extensive than a full vitrectomy and is considered a safer option for less severe conditions.
How is the Diagnosis for Vitrectomy Surgery Done?
Before recommending vitrectomy surgery, ophthalmologists use several diagnostic methods to assess the condition of the eye and determine the extent of damage to the retina or vitreous. This test measures vision clarity and evaluates a patient's visual acuity at various distances. It uses a Slit-Lamp examination, which involves a special microscope that examines the anterior part of the eye. Below are the key diagnostic tools:
A visual acuity test measures the clarity of a patient’s vision at various distances. A slit-lamp examination, which uses a specialised microscope, helps the ophthalmologist to closely examine the anterior part of the eye, including the cornea, lens, and anterior chamber. It helps detect early signs of eye conditions that might require vitrectomy.
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Optical Coherence Tomography
OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides detailed cross-sectional images of the retina and vitreous. It efficiently diagnoses vision distortions like macular holes, retinal membranes, and retinal detachments. OCT helps detect subtle distortions and structural changes in the retina with high precision.
This diagnostic tool is the most useful when the retina cannot be visualised directly due to opacities like dense cataracts, vitreous hemorrhage, or severe floaters. B-scan ultrasound provides real-time images of the posterior segment of the eye, which helps the ophthalmologist assess retinal detachment, tumours, or other structural abnormalities.
The Amsler Grid is a simple and effective test used to detect visual distortions or blind spots in the central vision. Patients are made to focus on a central dot while observing a grid of vertical and horizontal lines. Distorted, missing, or blurry lines may indicate issues such as macular degeneration or other retinal problems.
In this test, a fluorescent dye is injected into the bloodstream, which travels to the blood vessels in the retina. A special camera then captures images as the dye flows through the retinal vessels, highlighting abnormalities such as leaks, blockages, or neovascularisation. This test is especially useful for diagnosing conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular oedema, and age-related macular degeneration.
What is the Step-by-Step Procedure for a Vitrectomy Surgery in India?
Eye operation vitrectomy is performed to treat several retinal and vitreous conditions. However, this complex surgery requires some crucial steps for a positive outcome. Here is a step-by-step guide to the procedure:
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Preoperative Consultation
Before undergoing a vitrectomy surgery, it is important to consult a professional oculist. During this appointment, the doctor will evaluate your medical history and assess whether vitrectomy is the appropriate treatment for you. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the potential risks, benefits, and concerns with your surgeon.
It is essential to prepare before travelling all the way from Africa to India. Thus, planning reliable transportation and accommodation near the hospital and following all pre-surgery instructions, such as fasting, adjusting medications, or undergoing pre-operative tests, should be done.
On the day of the eye operation vitrectomy, surgeons administer general or local anaesthesia to make the procedure painless and comfortable for the patient. The choice of anaesthesia depends on the patient’s health, the complexity of the surgery, and the surgeon’s expert judgement.
At this stage, surgeons use special instruments to remove vitreous gel from the eye. This removal process is crucial to restoring access to the retina and treating conditions like vitreous damage.
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Underlying Condition Treatment
Depending on the condition, surgeons also treat underlying conditions. For instance, surgeons perform photocoagulation or cryotherapy to seal retinal tears in case of retinal detachment. In the case of macular holes, the edges are brought together after scar tissue removal.
After addressing the retinal or macular conditions, the eye might be filled with a saline solution, silicone oil, or gas bubble to maintain the eye’s shape and keep the retina in place. These support the healing process and are either absorbed naturally or removed in a follow-up procedure.
Post vitrectomy, eye drops are recommended to protect the eye during the healing process. Patients also receive medication to prevent further infection and reduce inflammation. If a gas bubble was used, they might need to maintain a specific head position for several days. Follow-up appointments are a must to monitor healing progress and adjust treatment if needed.
What is the Cost of Vitrectomy Surgery in India?
India has emerged as one of the best places for getting vitrectomy surgery, especially for Africans wanting affordable and high-quality eye surgery. Thus, patients from many African countries travel overseas to India for this surgery. One of the significant reasons is that the vitrectomy surgery cost in India is much lower than in many Western countries. This is due to the lower operational costs and government subsidies for healthcare in India.
For instance, from an expert surgeon, a high-quality vitrectomy surgery cost can be around $2,000 to $2,500. It’s a delicate procedure, so additional costs can arise. It will depend upon the complexity and extended care if problems occur. Other than that, patients get pre-operative tests, surgery, hospital stay, and aftercare within this price package. Therefore, all these factors combine with India’s medical tourism, surging demand for the country’s skilled oculists and affordable healthcare services.
Why Get Vitrectomy Surgery in India?
India has become one of the best countries for getting advanced eye treatments, including complex procedures like vitrectomy surgery. Every year, thousands of international patients, particularly from African nations, choose India for its exceptional healthcare services.
1. Best Quality Virectomy Treatments
India is home to some of the world’s most experienced ophthalmologists and retinal specialists. The surgeons with CureIndia are internationally trained and skilled for handling complex cases with high success rates. These specialists use the latest surgical techniques and precision tools to ensure optimal outcomes.
2. Advanced Technology & Infrastructure
Modern diagnostic and surgical technologies, such as these, are available in Indian hospitals:
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High-resolution OCT scanners
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State-of-the-art B-scan ultrasound
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Robotic-assisted surgical tools
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3D visualization systems for microsurgery
This ensures accurate diagnosis and safer surgical procedures.
3. Cost-Effective Vitrectomy Treatment
One of the biggest advantages of choosing India is its affordability. Vitrectomy surgery in India costs a fraction of what it would in the U.S., U.K., or Europe, without compromising on quality. This makes India a financially viable option for patients who might otherwise be unable to access such specialised eye care.
4. Shorter Wait Times
Unlike some countries where waiting lists for eye surgeries can stretch for months, Indian hospitals typically offer faster scheduling. This feature is especially critical for urgent retinal conditions, where delays can result in permanent vision loss.
Vitrectomy Surgery in India FAQs
Generally, it’s not painful during the procedure, as it is performed under general anaesthesia. Patients may experience some amount of pain or discomfort during surgery. However, it is manageable with doctor-prescribed pain medication.
It treats various eye conditions such as retinal detachment, macular holes, diabetic retinopathy and severe eye floaters. The procedure prevents further damage to the retina, thereby improving eyesight.
The procedure involves removing the vitreous gel from the eye to repair retinal damage. Vitrectomy helps prevent further damage or problems, like blindness.
It's a delicate surgery that generally takes 1 to 2 hours to complete. However, the time depends on the complexity and extent of the surgery. For instance, retinal detachment or scar tissue may take longer due to the underlying condition treatments.
Full recovery after a vitrectomy generally takes 4 to 6 weeks. You must take regular follow-ups with your oculist. The doctor will prescribe eye drops, wearing eye patches, and avoiding strenuous activities for several weeks. With those, you can experience seamless recovery after vitrectomy.
There is no such ‘best age’ for vitrectomy eye surgery. It depends on the severity of the eye condition regardless of the patient's age. However, mostly middle-aged or older adults undergo vitrectomy surgery. These conditions are more common within this age group.
In India, patients can undergo vitrectomy and expect to pay between 2,000 USD and $2,500 USD. In this price range, patients get high-quality treatment from expert surgeons and a medical tourism convenience in India.
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