How is it Surgical Retina different?
Many Vitreo-Retinal diseases require treatment by surgical approaches inside the eye. Retina-related Surgery is an extremely specialized and skilful arena practiced only by a small percentage of eye surgeons after a long period of training and experience. This field requires advanced infrastructure and equipment and demands dedication of the specialist doctor in terms of time, effort and expertise.

Common Surgical Retina conditions
The most common Vitreo-retinal diseases requiring advanced surgery are Rhegmatogenous Retinal detachment, Vitreous hemorrhage, Tractional retinal detachment, Intraocular Foreign bodies, Trauma to the posterior segment of the eye, Infection inside the eye (Endophthalmitis), Complications during/after other eye surgeries like dislocated nucleus, displaced Intraocular Lens, Suprachoroidal hemorrhage, etc.

Some conditions require the relatively minor surgery but specialized procedure of injection of drugs into the eye (Intravitreal injections). The commonly used intravitreal drugs are then Anti-VEGF agents  –Ranibizumab (Lucentis), Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Pegaptanib (Macugen), and other drugs like Triamcinolone and Antibiotics – antibacterials and antifungals.

Scleral Buckling Surgery
This is the type of surgery is usually required for fresh detachment of retina when the patient seeks treatment early. It involves a repair of the detached retina with attachment of a buckling material over the sclera of the eye to stick and support the retina. Scleral buckling may be needed to be combined with Vitrectomy for more advanced retinal pathology.

Vitrectomy
In this surgery, the vitreous cavity inside the eye is cleaned and the underlying retina repaired surgically with fine instruments inserted into the eye. Recent advances in instrumentation and expertise have led to the development of sutureless vitrectomy for appropriate indications. Diseases commonly requiring Vitrectomy surgery are listed above under common surgical retina conditions.

Anciliary procedures
Some complicated conditions need the use of specialized anciliary techniques  (usually along with a vitrectomy) like Phacofragmentation, Scleral fixation of Intraocular Lens, Repositioning  of decentred or dislocated intraocular lenses, Lensectomy, Surgical capsulectomy or membranectomy, etc  requiring  the services and skills of a Vitreo-retinal surgeon.