At Slingsby & Huot Eye Care Associates in Rapid City, SD, we offer comprehensive eye exams and treatments for different eye conditions, including detached and torn retinas. You can visit any of our outreach clinics in Pierre, Belle Fourche, Spearfish, and Chadron, NE, for an expert eye examination. Read on to learn more about retinal tears and detachments and how our team of ophthalmologists can help.

What Is a Detached and Torn Retina?

A detached or torn retina is an eye problem where the thin tissues at the back of the eye loosen and pull away from its supportive tissue. Retinal tears and detachments require immediate medical attention, as they can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.

What Causes Retinal Detachment?

Our eyes have a clear gel-like substance called vitreous, which maintains the eyeball shape to nourish them. The vitreous gel may shrink and pull away from the retina as we age, without causing any problems. However, sometimes the vitreous may stick to the retina and tear it during normal eye movements, causing it to penetrate through the tear and detach the retina. That’s when patients start experiencing the symptoms of a detached and torn retina.

What Are the Risk Factors of Retinal Detachment?

You are likely to suffer from retinal detachment if you:

• Experienced previous cataract surgery
• Suffer from glaucoma
• Sustained a severe eye injury
• Have history of retinal detachment in your family line
• Have weak/thinning areas in your retina
• Are nearsighted

Our Ophthalmologists Help with Detached and Torn Retina

Slingsby and Huot Eye Care Associates have a team of well-skilled and experienced ophthalmologists committed to providing unparalleled eye care for our patients. We have adopted the latest technology and treatments to ensure our patients get comprehensive diagnostic testing and customized treatment.

Our ophthalmologists will examine your eyes to determine the presence of a detached retina. Retinal detachments and tears require surgery to reposition the retina. The type of surgical treatment for retinal detachment depends on your detachment's severity and characteristics.

• Scleral Buckle Surgery: Placing solid silicone rubber or sponge material to the sclera, the outside part of your eyeball.  It helps to correct the retinal detachment by pressing the eye wall inward, keeping the separated areas together and allowing the retina to reattach to the eye’s interior wall.  It is typically left on the eye permanently.
• Pneumatic Retinopexy: Injection of a gas bubble in the vitreous area to push the torn retina close to the back of the eye.
• Vitrectomy: Replacement of the vitreous gel, with possible gas bubble to help keep your retina in place.

After the surgery, our eye surgeons will prescribe the right medications to ease the discomfort and hasten healing. They will also recommend the best practices to minimize the risk of developing post-eye surgery complications.

Contact Slingsby and Huot Eye Care Associates for Eye Exams and Treatment

At Slingsby & Huot Eye Care Associates in Rapid City, SD, we offer varied eye services, including detached and torn eye treatment, cataract surgery, and eyelid surgery. Contact us at (605) 719-9499 to book an appointment with our eye surgeons or for any inquiries regarding our services.