For instance, Dutch surgeon Anton Nuck (1650–1692) claimed to have removed vitreous by suction in a young man with an inflamed eye.

[1] In Boston, John Collins Warren (1778–1856) performed a crude limited vitrectomy for angle closure glaucoma.

[citation needed] Vitrectomy was originated by Robert Machemer[3] with contributions from Thomas M. Aaberg Sr in late 1969 and early 1970.

[citation needed] The success of these first procedures led to the development of techniques and instruments to remove clouding and also to peel scar tissue off the light sensitive lining of the eye—the retina—membranectomy, to provide space for materials injected in the eye to reattach the retina such as gases or liquid silicone, and to increase the efficacy of other surgical steps such as scleral buckle.

[4] More recent advances have included smaller and more refined instruments for use in the eye, the injection of various medications at the time of surgery to manipulate a detached retina into its proper position and mark the location of tissue layers to allow their removal, and for long term protection against scar tissue formation.

[5] Additional surgical steps involved as part of modern vitrectomy surgeries may include: Membranectomy – removal of layers of unhealthy tissue from the retina with minute instruments such as forceps (tiny grasping tools), picks (miniature hooks), and visco-dissection (separating layers of tissue with jets of fluid.)

[6] If the patient has an epiretinal membrane and is also complaining of symptoms such as decreased visual acuity, then a membranectomy is performed in addition to the vitrectomy.

The mixed gases disappear spontaneously once they have accomplished their purpose and the posterior segment re-fills with fluid.

[8] Photocoagulation – In cases when there is a tear in the retina, or when there are unhealthy damaging blood vessels (which can be seen in patients with diabetic retinopathy), laser treatment can be used.

Placement of the scleral buckle for patients who have had a retinal detachment has been shown to lead to reattachment approximately 80 to 90 percent of the time after one surgery.

Macular pucker – formation of a patch of unhealthy tissue in the central retina (the macula) distorting vision.

The proliferative type is characterized by formation of new unhealthy, freely bleeding blood vessels within the eye (called vitreal hemorrhage) and/or causing thick fibrous scar tissue to grow on the retina, detaching it.

Often diabetic retinopathy is treated in early stages with a laser in the physician's office to prevent these problems.

When bleeding or retinal detachment occur, vitrectomy is employed to clear the blood, membranectomy removes scar tissue, and injection of gas or silicone with scleral buckle may be needed to return sight.

Problems such as return of the original condition, bleeding, or infection from the surgery may require additional treatment or can result in blindness.

In the event that the patient would need to remain face down after surgery, a vitrectomy support system can be rented, to help aid during the recovery time.

With more serious problems, such as a retina which has detached several times, final sight may be only sufficient to safely walk (ambulatory vision) or less.