What Is Retinal Detachment Surgery?
Retinal detachment surgery is performed to repair a detached retina and prevent further vision loss. The type of surgery recommended depends on the location, extent and characteristics of the retinal detachment.
Experiencing Any of These Symptoms?
If your symptoms are worsening quickly, you are advised to call the clinic directly to arrange an urgent consultation.
Retinal Detachment Surgery Options
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is one of the surgical approaches used to repair retinal detachment. Very small instruments are inserted through tiny openings in the eye to remove the vitreous gel and allow the retina to be repaired. Laser treatment and a gas bubble or silicone oil may be used to help stabilise the retina.
Microsurgical instruments are inserted through very small incisions, which may not require stitches. Sutureless vitrectomy may offer less postoperative discomfort and faster recovery.
Scleral Buckle
In a scleral buckle surgery, a silicone band is inserted under the muscles of the eye and secured with sutures onto the external surface of the eye (sclera). The scleral buckle is strategically stitched and tightened over the retinal tear to achieve retinal re-attachment from the outside of the eye. Laser or freezing (cryotherapy) therapy is usually added to seal the edges of the tear.
A silicone band is secured to the external wall of the eye to repair a retinal detachment.
Why Choose Dr. Nikolle Tan as Your Vitreo-Retinal Specialist?
- She is an eye surgeon and Vitreo-Retina specialist who has been specially trained to treat serious retinal disorders like retinal detachments.
- Experience with different methods of repairing retinal detachments.
- Extensive experience treating complex retinal detachments.
FAQs
Scleral buckle and vitrectomy surgery are done in the “back” of the eye and are generally considered bigger operations than surgeries for the “front” of the eye like cataract operations.
However, these are usually still done as day surgery procedures in an operating theatre and can be done under local or general anesthesia. No overnight stay in a hospital is needed. Under local anesthesia, you will be awake but comfortably sedated whereas under general anesthesia, you will be completely unconscious.
Retinal detachments are medical emergencies and should be treated urgently. It is best to re-attach the retina before central vision is affected and certainly before it “hardens”.
Therefore, it is advisable to seek treatment when the “curtain” obstructing vision affects only peripheral vision. Once central vision is affected (a macula-off retinal detachment) or the detachment becomes chronic (PVR develops), success rates will drop significantly and the risk of visual impairment or blindness goes up significantly.
Recovery typically involves several weeks of reduced activity and postoperative eye drops to allow the eye to heal properly.
Some patients may be advised to “posture” in specific positions after surgery. This is particularly important as gas or silicone oil would have been injected in the eye at the end of their surgeries. Positioning as advised will increase the success rate of the surgery.
If there is gas in the eye, air travel is absolutely prohibited. This is because high altitude will cause the gas bubble to expand and eye pressure can become dangerously high, leading to irreversible blindness. Those who must travel by air soon after surgery should inform their surgeons so silicone oil can be used instead of gas.
Follow-up appointments are crucial to monitor eye pressure, the healing process, and to ensure the retina is securely attached.
For some patients, “posturing face down” after surgery will help the retina re-attach successfully.