​Detached Retina Surgery

Surgery is inevitable for a person suffering from retinal detachment and it is the only way to fix the retina in its normal position. If it is not fixed at the right time, the retina won’t function properly and can lead to permanent blindness. The method employed depends upon the level of detachment. Usually cryotherapy or laser treatment is done to seal the detachment.

Scleral buckle:

Scleral buckle is a flexible band used to counter the force pulling the retina apart. This procedure is performed in an operating room. The fluid is drained first and the retina is allowed to settle in its normal position.

Pneumatic retinopexy:

In this procedure a gas bubble is placed in the vitreous space while performing laser surgery. The retina is pushed to the eye wall by the gas bubble. The bubble will vanish within some days and the ophthalmologist will recommend you to keep your head straight for certain days.

Virectomy:

Sometimes oil bubble is used in place of gas bubble. Usually gas bubble gets replaced by the fluid in course of time but the oil bubble has to be removed from the eyes and so a surgical procedure is performed to remove it. It is also done in combination with sclera buckle sometimes. One must not travel by air until the gas bubble has disappeared from eyes otherwise increased altitude may cause a rise in eye pressure. But this is not the case with oil bubble.

Most of the surgeries are successful and some detachments cannot be fixed because of the scar tissue. If it is not repaired, the eye will become blind eventually. It may take months for the vision to get stabilized and improved. If you have any trouble in seeing even after some days after treatment, consult your doctor.