Retinal detachment happens when your retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye) is pulled away from its normal position. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency, and early treatment is important to protect your vision.
If you have a retinal detachment, you may need surgery to reattach your retina to the back of your eye within a few days. All of our retinal surgeries are done in our building at Slingsby & Wright Eye Surgery & Laser Center. After surgery, you may have limited activity - and it might take a few weeks before your vision starts getting better.
There are 3 types of surgery that doctors can do to fix a detached retina:
- Pneumatic retinopexy ("noo-mat-ick RET-ih-no-pek-see")
- Scleral buckle
- Vitrectomy
The type of surgery you need will depend on several things, including how much of your retina is detached and where in your eye it detached. Your doctor will talk to you about what type he recommends, and about the risks and benefits of surgery. Some people may need more than one type of surgery at once.
During the surgery, your doctor may also use laser or freeze treatments to repair tears or holes in your retina and help hold your retina in place after surgery.
What is Pneumatic Retinopexy?
In Pneumatic Retinopexy, Dr. Slingsby will inject a small air bubble into your eye. The bubble will push your retina back into place so your doctor can use a laser or freeze treatment to repair any holes or tears.
When you get this surgery, your doctor will:
- Put numbing medicine in your eye
- Insert a tiny needle into your eye and remove a small amount of fluid
- Inject a small amount of air into your eye
- Use laser or freeze treatment to repair any holes or tears in your retina
You'll be able to see the air bubble in your peripheral (side) vision after the surgery. The bubble will disappear on its own over time.
After the surgery, you'll need to:
- Hold your head in a certain position for several days to keep the air bubble in the right spot
- Avoid some activities - like flying in an airplane, intense exercise, and heavy lifting - while your eye heals
- Have a follow-up visit with your doctor to make sure your eye is healing
Tell your doctor if you have any questions or concerns after surgery, including if your vision seems worse or if you have a lot of pain or swelling.
What is Scleral Buckle Surgery?
During Scleral Buckle Surgery, your doctor will put a tiny, flexible band around the white part of your eye. This part of the eye is called the sclera.
The band pushes gently on the sides of your eye and moves them inward toward your retina, which helps your retina reattach. The band will stay on your eye permanently after the surgery. Your doctor may also use a laser or freeze treatment to repair any tears in your retina.
Usually, you'll get anesthesia so you'll be asleep during this surgery. You won't feel anything or remember the surgery. Most people can go home the same day, but you'll need someone to drive you home.
After the surgery, your eye may feel a little sore. You'll need to:
- Wear a patch over your eye for about a day
- Avoid some activities - like heavy lifting or heavy exercise - while your eye heals
- Have a follow-up visit with your doctor to make sure your eye is healing
Tell your doctor if you have any questions or concerns after surgery, including if your vision seems worse or if you have a lot of pain or swelling.
What is Vitrectomy?
Vitrectomy is similar to pneumatic retinopexy, but it's a longer surgery and it also happens in our building at Slingsby & Wright Eye Surgery & Laser Center.
What eye conditions does Vitrectomy treat?
Vitrectomy can help doctors treat several different eye conditions. For example, vitrectomy may be part of the treatment plan for:
- Retinal Detachment
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Like any surgery, this treatment has risks. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of vitrectomy.
What happens during vitrectomy?
During vitrectomy surgery, your eye doctor will make very small openings in your eye wall and remove most of the vitreous from your eye with a suction tool.
Depending on your treatment plan, your doctor may also:
- Use a laser or freeze treatment to reattach or repair your retina
- Inject a bubble of air or special gas into your eye to hold your retina in place
- Replace the vitreous with a clear fluid, like silicone oil
Doctors can either use numbing eye drops or shots so you won't feel pain during the surgery, or they can use general anesthesia to put you to sleep for the surgery. Before your vitrectomy surgery, talk with your doctor about your anesthesia options.
If you need vitrectomy in both eyes, you'll only get surgery on 1 eye at a time. Your doctor can schedule surgery on the second eye after the first eye has recovered.
How long does it take to recover?
Our patients all go home the same day. You'll need someone to drive you home from our surgical center.
Your eye may be swollen and red for several weeks after the surgery. While your eye is healing, you may have some eye pain and your vision may be blurrier than before the surgery. You'll have a follow-up appointment so your eye doctor can check your vision and make sure your eye is healing.
After the surgery, you'll need to:
- Wear an eye patch, usually for about a day
- Use eye drops to reduce swelling and prevent infections
- Avoid some activities - like driving, intense exercise, and heavy lifting - while your eye heals
- Take some time off work - check with Our Team
Ask your doctor when it's safe to go back to work and start driving and exercising again.
If the doctor puts an air or gas bubble in your eye, you'll need to:
- Hold your head in a certain position for a few days to a few weeks, to keep the air bubble in the right spot
- Avoid flying in an airplane or traveling to high altitudes while the bubble is in your eye
Ask your doctor how long you need to keep doing these things after surgery.
If the doctor puts silicone oil in your eye, you'll need a second surgery to remove it.
*Courtesy: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH)