When can I go back to work after a vitrectomy?

The positioning requirement, not the surgery itself, is what usually keeps people out of work. AAO tells gas-bubble patients to stay face-down or sideways when they stand, sit, eat, walk, and sleep, and describes this lasting days to weeks. There is no realistic job you can do in that posture, though AAO does mention angled face-down mirrors that let some people see a screen while staying positioned.

AAO also advises limited activity for several weeks after retinal detachment surgery, and says your ophthalmologist will give you specific guidance on returning to normal activities. Neither AAO nor ASRS publishes a fixed return-to-work day count for vitrectomy, so treat any number you hear as an estimate.

Vision is the other factor. ASRS notes that people who received a gas bubble or silicone oil may need weeks or even months for vision to improve. If your job depends on fine detail vision and your operated eye is your only good eye, plan for a longer absence and ask your surgeon to help document it.

One work-related warning that does not bend: if your job involves flying or working at altitude, you cannot return while gas remains in the eye. AAO is explicit that you cannot fly or go to high altitudes until the bubble is gone.