Retinal Surgery in Huddersfield
Expert, consultant-led vitreoretinal surgery for conditions affecting the retina and vitreous, including retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, vitreous haemorrhage, and complications of diabetic eye disease.
Affiliations & As Seen In
Read About Our Happy Patients
What a great experience! Very reassuring and I am very grateful for the consultation from Dr Musa he was so helpful in helping me make a decision to proceed to having eye correction surgery. I have the upmost confidence in him and the team at the Eye Doctor Clinic, Huddersfield.
Lozza 747I had implants with Dr Musa ten years ago. It was the best thing I've ever done. They are brilliant. My sight both near and distant was very poor but since the op I've had no glasses no lenses and my sight has been super. It remains really good to this day. Thank you Dr Musa. Brilliant consultations and treatment for glaucoma since.
Kay FitbitI can highly recommend the Eye Doctor Clinic, and I am so pleased I went there. Dr Musa, Gemma and Jess are lovely. They are very knowledgeable and were able to answer all my questions. My vision following surgery is great, and not having to wear glasses is fantastic.
Carol PeelWhat Is Retinal Surgery?
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the inner surface of the eye and converts light into the electrical signals that travel to the brain as vision. When the retina is damaged, detached, or affected by disease, surgery may be required to restore its structure and prevent permanent visual loss.
The primary surgical technique used is pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) — a microsurgical procedure performed through tiny incisions (typically 0.5–0.9 mm) in the sclera. Using small-gauge instruments and a high-magnification operating microscope, the vitreous gel is removed, providing direct access to the retinal surface. Depending on the condition, additional steps such as membrane peeling, laser photocoagulation, or internal tamponade with gas or silicone oil may follow.
Modern small-gauge vitrectomy (23G, 25G, or 27G) uses instruments so fine that the wounds are typically self-sealing, requiring no stitches and allowing a faster, more comfortable recovery than traditional open vitrectomy techniques.
Retinal Surgery at a Glance
- Technique: Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)
- Incision size: 0.5–0.9 mm (small-gauge)
- Stitches: Typically none required
- Anaesthesia: Local with sedation or general
- Setting: Day-case theatre
- Duration: 30 min – 2 hours (case dependent)
- Tamponade: Gas or silicone oil where needed
- Recovery: Several weeks (varies by procedure)
Conditions Treated
Retinal Detachment
When the retina separates from the underlying tissue, urgent surgical repair is required to prevent permanent vision loss. Vitrectomy, scleral buckling, or a combination is used depending on the type and extent of the detachment.
Macular Hole
A full-thickness defect in the central retina (the macula) causes blurred or distorted central vision. Vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and gas tamponade achieves closure rates of over 90% in most cases.
Epiretinal Membrane
A thin layer of fibrous scar tissue forms on the surface of the macula, causing distortion and reduced visual acuity. Membrane peeling during vitrectomy removes the tissue and typically stabilises or improves vision.
Vitreous Haemorrhage
Bleeding into the vitreous gel — most commonly from proliferative diabetic retinopathy or a retinal tear — can cause sudden, severe visual loss. Vitrectomy clears the blood and allows treatment of the underlying cause.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Advanced diabetic eye disease can lead to abnormal new blood vessel growth, tractional retinal detachment, and haemorrhage. Vitrectomy combined with laser photocoagulation and membrane dissection addresses these complications.
Dense Vitreous Floaters
Significant, vision-impairing floaters that fail to resolve spontaneously or with observation can be removed surgically through vitrectomy. The procedure provides definitive relief where laser vitreolysis has been insufficient.
What to Expect
Assessment & Imaging
A comprehensive examination including optical coherence tomography (OCT), wide-field fundal imaging, and ultrasound (if the view is obscured) guides surgical planning and confirms the diagnosis.
Anaesthesia
Most retinal procedures are performed under local anaesthesia with sedation, allowing you to remain comfortable and awake. General anaesthesia is available where clinically appropriate or patient preference dictates.
Vitrectomy
Three tiny incisions (0.5–0.9 mm) are made in the white of the eye. Small-gauge instruments remove the vitreous gel under high magnification, providing direct access to the retinal surface.
Retinal Treatment
The specific intervention — membrane peeling, laser photocoagulation, retinal reattachment, drainage of subretinal fluid, or removal of scar tissue — is performed with microsurgical precision.
Internal Tamponade
Where required (e.g. retinal detachment or macular hole), the vitreous cavity is filled with a gas bubble or silicone oil to hold the retina in position during healing. The gas absorbs naturally over several weeks.
Aftercare & Posturing
If a gas bubble is used, you will need to maintain a specific head position for a period after surgery to keep the bubble in contact with the retina. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops are prescribed, and follow-up appointments monitor recovery.
Why Choose The Eye Doctor for Retinal Surgery
Retinal Surgery FAQs
Vitrectomy is a microsurgical procedure in which the vitreous gel inside the eye is removed through tiny incisions. This provides access to the retinal surface, allowing the surgeon to treat conditions such as retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, and vitreous haemorrhage. Modern small-gauge (23G, 25G, or 27G) vitrectomy involves incisions as small as 0.5 mm that are typically self-sealing and do not require stitches.
Most patients experience minimal discomfort. The eye is fully anaesthetised before surgery, and sedation ensures you remain relaxed throughout. After the procedure, the eye may feel gritty, aching, or sore for several days, which is managed with pain relief and prescribed drops.
Procedure time varies depending on the complexity of the case. Simple cases such as vitreous floater removal may take 30–45 minutes, whilst complex retinal detachment repairs or diabetic vitrectomy can take 1–2 hours. Your surgeon will give you a more accurate estimate at consultation.
If a gas bubble is placed inside the eye — for example, following macular hole surgery or certain retinal detachment repairs — you will need to maintain a specific head position (most commonly face-down) for a defined period, typically 5–7 days, to keep the bubble in contact with the area being treated. Your surgical team will give you detailed, written instructions.
Recovery varies by procedure and individual. Vision is typically blurred in the first few weeks and improves gradually as the eye heals. If a gas bubble is used, vision remains very poor until the gas absorbs — usually 4–8 weeks depending on the gas used. Most patients can return to desk work within 2–4 weeks. Driving is not permitted while a gas bubble is present in the eye.
Mr Murtuza Mookhtiar
MBChB · FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Cataract & Retinal Specialist
Mr Murtuza Mookhtiar is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon with a specialist interest in vitreoretinal surgery and cataract surgery. He manages a wide range of complex retinal conditions including retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, and vitreous floaters. Mr Mookhtiar combines precise surgical technique with a compassionate approach, ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care throughout their treatment journey.
Mrs Farhat Butt
MBChB · FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Medical Retina & Uveitis
Mrs Farhat Butt is a Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in medical retina and uveitis. She has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of sight-threatening conditions including wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema, retinal vein occlusion, and complex uveitis. Mrs Butt is highly experienced in intravitreal injection therapy and provides expert, patient-centred care for some of the most challenging retinal and inflammatory eye conditions.
Meet the Team
Where to Find Us
Three convenient locations across West Yorkshire. Visit us for consultations, diagnostics, and treatments.
Bolton
136 – 140 Newport St
Bolton, Greater Manchester
BL3 6AB
Huddersfield
Woodlands, 4 Longbow Close
Huddersfield, HD2 1GQ
Concerned About Your Retinal Health?
Our consultant retinal specialists are here to help. Call +44 1484 627779 or book online for an expert assessment.
