Retinal detachment repair

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Detached retina

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Retinal detachment repair

Alternative Names:

Scleral buckling

Expectations after surgery:

The most important outcome for retinal detachment surgery is good vision. The chances of successful re-attachment of the retina depends on how many holes there are in the retina, how large they are, and whether there is scar tissue on the retina pulling it forward.

Over 90% of retinal detachments can be re-attached, most with only one operation, but some requiring several. Less than 10% of detachments cannot be repaired. Failure to repair the detachment always results in poor or no vision in the eye.

Repaired detachments recover vision, but the quality of vision will depend on several factors. If the macula was not involved in the detachment, vision will usually be very good. If the macula was involved, but only for a short time (a week or less) the vision will usually be good, but not 20/20 (normal). If the macula was detached for a long time, vision will return, but it will not be sharp.

Convalescence:

Retinal hole treatment with a laser can be done in an ophthalmologist's office without a hospital stay. Pneumatic retinopexy (gas bubble placement) is also usually an office procedure.

If the procedure requires scleral buckle or vitrectomy surgery, a hospital or outpatient surgery center is needed. Local anesthesia (injections to numb the eye and surrounding tissue) or general anesthesia may used, depending on the anticipated length of the operation. An overnight stay is not usually needed.

Activities will be limited for a period of time. For a detachment repair using a gas bubble, a certain head position may be required for several weeks. The position may be face down or turned to one side. It is important to maintain this position to have the gas bubble push the retina in place. Patients with a gas bubble in the eye may not travel in aircraft, and must be certain to inform any other doctors who may treat them about the bubble in the eye, particularly if other surgery is needed.

Review Date: 4/8/2005
Reviewed By: Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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