Vitrectomy is a microsurgical procedure in which specialized instruments and techniques are used to repair various retinal disorders. The initial step in this procedure is the removal of the "vitreous gel" through a very small micro-incision in the wall of the eye, hence the name "vitrectomy". The vitreous is removed with a miniature cutting device and replaced with a special saline solution similar to the fluid being removed from the eye. An endoilluminator provides the light source used to illuminate the inside of the eye for the surgeon to visualize the internal structures as the surgery is being performed. The surgeon uses a specialized operating microscope and contact lenses, which allow a clear view of the vitreous cavity and retina at various magnifications. The procedure is performed in an operating room under local or (occasionally) general anesthesia. It can, and is often done as an ambulatory procedure. This means that barring complications, a patient is discharged and can leave the hospital or surgical facility within 23 hours. With most of our cases the patients are usually discharged and leave the hospital within 3 to 4 hours of completion of the procedure. Although vitrectomy procedures are sometimes performed through incisions made near the front of the eye, most vitreo-retinal surgeons enter the globe through a part of the eye known as the pars plana. This is why the procedure is often referred to as a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Entering the eye through this location avoids damage to the retina and the crystalline lens