World-Class Surgical Techniques and Procedures

At the Beirut Eye Clinic we perform advanced retinal surgery using cutting edge procedures and technology. Our surgeries are mainly carried out under local anaesthetic as day-case operations with the patient spending just a few hours in hospital. Patients admitted for surgery are cared for during their stay by a specialised and committed team of nurses and technicians in a supportive environment. This optimal nursing service combined with world-class surgical treatment ensures the best possible treatment for the patient.

We cover a comprehensive range of vitreous and retinal diseases including vitreous haemorrhage, complex diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane and macular hole.

1. Vitreous haemorrhage

Vitreous haemorrhage is one of the commonest causes of acute decrease in vision. It is usually caused by rupture of a normal blood vessel due to mechanical traction or of abnormal vessels in conditions such as diabetes, retinal vein occlusion and age-related macular degeneration. Treatment generally depends on the underlying aetiology. Observation with regular outpatient visits and medical treatment can be undertaken if the retina remains attached. However if an associated retinal break or detachment is identified, surgery (vitrectomy) is required urgently. A vitrectomy may also be necessary in cases of non-clearing haemorrhage.

2. Complex diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes is the commonest cause of blindness in the working age population in the developed world. Advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy require modern vitreoretinal techniques to peel scar tissue off the surface of the retina, repair associated retinal detachments and apply adjunctive argon laser burns to treat the retinopathy. Surgery is usually very successful in preventing further visual loss and often leads to an improvement in visual acuity.

3. Retinal detachment

A retinal detachment can cause severe and permanent visual loss if not treated promptly and appropriately. Surgery is always required for bringing the retina back into postion and different microsurgical techniques are employed depending on the extent and type of detachment. These repair techniques vary from placing a silicone buckle externally around the eye to removing the vitreous gel (vitrectomy) and injecting a tamponading agent (air, gas or silicone oil) into the vitreous cavity. Adjunctive cryotherapy or laser is used to seal retinal breaks responsible for the detachment. Visual acuity recovery is variable and depends largely on the preoperative characteristics of the detachment.

4. Epiretinal membrane

An epiretinal membrane (also called macular pucker or cellophane maculopathy) is a thin sheet of fibrous tissue that develops on the surface of the macula (the central part of the retina) and causes disturbance in vision. Surgical treatment by vitrectomy and peeling is carried out when the membrane has a significant effect on vision. Most patients improve considerably after surgery.

5. Macular hole

A macular hole is a defect in the central part of the retina causing a loss of central vision. This condition can be treated with surgery and recent advances in vitreoretinal techniques allow successful closure of the hole in over 90% of cases. A vitrectomy is performed and any scar tissue present around the hole is peeled off. A gas bubble is then injected inside the vitreous cavity to tamponade and seal the hole. Many patients recover very good vision after surgery.