Immediately following Vitrectomy surgery, most patients experience a mild sensation of having something in their eye. Severe pain is very rare unless there’s an unusual amount of inflammation or elevated eye pressure. Some short-term post-op symptoms can include eyelid swelling, eye redness, and bruising around the eye. These improve rather quickly.
Some patients may notice a decrease in vision for a few days after surgery. It will gradually improve with time. If a gas bubble or silicone oil was used, it may take weeks to months for clear vision to return.
It’s important to plan to have someone take you home after surgery. Your doctor may instruct you to hold your head in a certain position to keep the gas bubble in your eye in just the right position to support your retina. If you have gas in your eye, you will not be able to fly above 2000 feet until the gas bubble has completely dissolved (this takes several weeks). This is because increased air pressure can cause the bubble to expand and damage your eye.