PPV Surgery (Pars Plana Vitrectomy)

Removing What Blocks and Replacing What Protects

The vitreous is the clear, gel-like substance that fills the interior of the eye. In many serious eye conditions — from bleeding inside the eye to retinal detachment and beyond — this gel needs to be removed to allow the surgeon to access and repair the retina directly. Pars Plana Vitrectomy, or PPV, is the surgical procedure that makes this possible, and at RGC Eye Hospital, our vitreoretinal surgeons perform it using the most advanced equipment available.

What Is Pars Plana Vitrectomy?

PPV is a microsurgical procedure in which the vitreous gel is carefully removed from inside the eye through very small incisions. With the gel removed, the surgeon has a clear, unobstructed view of the retina and can work directly on it to repair damage, remove scar tissue, seal tears, or reattach the retina. Once the work inside the eye is complete, the vitreous cavity is filled with a balanced salt solution, a gas bubble, or silicone oil — depending on what best supports the repair.

What Conditions Require PPV?

• Vitreous haemorrhage — bleeding that clouds the vitreous and blocks vision
• Retinal detachment — particularly complex or long-standing cases
• Macular holes — repairing a break at the centre of the retina
• Epiretinal membrane — removing scar tissue from the retinal surface
• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy with traction on the retina
• Dropped lens nucleus during cataract surgery
• Removal of intraocular foreign bodies
• Silicone oil removal following a previous vitreoretinal procedure

What Happens During PPV?

Step 1 — Anaesthesia

PPV is performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on the complexity of the case and the needs of the patient. You will be comfortable and relaxed throughout.

Step 2 — Small Incisions

Three tiny incisions — typically less than one millimetre each — are made through the pars plana, a safe zone at the front of the eye. Through these, the surgeon introduces a light source, an irrigation line, and the cutting instrument.

Step 3 — Removing the Vitreous

The vitreous cutter removes the gel in small, controlled fragments while irrigation fluid maintains the shape and pressure of the eye throughout the procedure.

Step 4 — Treating the Retina

With a clear view of the retina, the surgeon performs the necessary repair work — whether peeling a membrane, sealing a tear with laser, or reattaching the retina — using precision microsurgical instruments.

Step 5 — Filling and Closing

The vitreous cavity is filled with the appropriate substance and the tiny incisions are sealed. The procedure duration varies from one to several hours depending on the complexity of the case.

Recovery After PPV

Recovery after PPV depends on what was done inside the eye and what was used to fill the cavity. If a gas bubble was used, you will need to maintain a specific head position for a period of time — your surgeon will explain this clearly before you leave. If silicone oil was used, a second procedure to remove it will be planned once the retina has healed. Vision typically improves gradually over weeks to months. Close follow-up is essential throughout the recovery period.

Why Patients Trust RGC Eye Hospital

• Specialist vitreoretinal surgeons with deep expertise in complex PPV procedures
• The Alcon Constellation Vision System — a world-class vitreoretinal surgical platform
• Meticulous pre-operative planning and thorough post-operative monitoring
• A team that is with you every step of the way — from diagnosis through to full recovery