Does retinal surgery get rid of floaters?

Depends: There are a number of procedures that could be referred to as retinal surgery. For example retinal laser surgery to treat diabetic eye disease or a retinal tear will not eliminate a floater. A vitrectomy performed as part of a retinal or posterior segment surgery can eliminate a floater. It is best to discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives with a retinal surgeon.

"Serious" floaters.: By serious you mean interfering with vision, then the answer would be a vitrectomy. Although it carries risks, it is associated with reasonably good outcomes to get rid of floaters. The reality is that most floaters are not serious enough to warrant a vitrectomy. Of the floaters that I have seen that are truly serious, most are associated with some other disease process like diabetes.

Yes: Although vitreoretinal surgery can remove floaters, the question is should they be. Vitreous surgery is very safe, however no surgery is without risks. The benefit to risk ratio should be a big factor in whether surgery should be done.

Floaterectomy: Vitrectomy surgery is often a part of successful retinal surgery for other indications. The vitrectomy has the nice side effect that it usually takes care of floaters. Vitrectomy for floaters alone is not considered the standard of care since, besides floaters, these eyes usually see well and the risk of surgery for floaters only USUALLY does not outweigh the benefits