Is an aching, high-pressure feeling normal after a vitrectomy?

What's normal

A mild ache around the eye and brow in the first days is common, and neck and shoulder aching from positioning is very common. ASRS notes that vitrectomy involves little or no pain and that severe pain is uncommon following surgery.

That said, raised eye pressure is a recognized issue after gas tamponade. StatPearls describes raised intraocular pressure occurring from overfill or from bubble expansion, and ASRS lists high or low eye pressure among the possible complications of vitrectomy. Your surgeon checks pressure at every post-op visit for exactly this reason, and may prescribe pressure-lowering drops.

This is also the mechanism behind the flying rule. AAO explains that altitude changes make the bubble expand and dramatically increase eye pressure.

Mild ache typically in the first days; any severe or escalating pain warrants a same-day call at any point.

When it stops being normal

ASRS states that severe pain is uncommon unless there is unusual inflammation or high eye pressure, which makes severe pain a signal to call. Call your surgeon urgently for pain that keeps increasing, a deep hard ache with nausea or vomiting, seeing halos around lights, or a sudden drop in vision. Do not wait for the next scheduled visit and do not try to treat it with over-the-counter drops.