Retinal Detachment

About Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment or tear repair is eye surgery to place a retina back into its normal position. The retina is the light-sensitive film at the back of the eye. The retina detaches when the retina peels away from the inner wall of the eye. Patients may be more likely to have retinal detachment if they are short-sighted, have had cataract surgery in the past, or have suffered a severe direct blow to the eye. Some types of retinal detachment can run in families, but these are rare. Most retinal detachments occur as a natural aging process in the eye. A detached retina is a serious and sight-threatening event, that happens when the retina becomes separated from its underlying supportive tissue. The retina cannot function when these layers are detached. And unless the retina is reattached soon, permanent vision loss may result.

• Types of retinal detachment
• Vitrectomy: The retinal tear may have been caused by the vitreous gel (jelly inside the eye) pulling on the blood vessels. In a vitrectomy operation, this gel will be removed from the eye.
• Scleral buckle: the ophthalmologist can help seal any holes in the retina by stitching a piece of silicone rubber or sponge to the outside of the eye. The buckle will not be visible on the outside of the eye. And it will be left in that place permanently.
• Pneumatic retinopexy: In this procedure, the surgeon injects a small bubble of gas into the vitreous body to push the detached portion of the retina onto the retinal pigment epithelium. When a retinal tear or hole hasn’t yet progressed to detachment, the eye surgeon may suggest one of the following procedures to prevent retinal detachment and preserve vision.
• Laser surgery (photocoagulation). The surgeon directs a laser beam into the eye through the pupil. The laser makes burns around the retinal tear, creating scarring that usually “welds” the retina to underlying tissue.
• Freezing (cryopexy). After giving a local anesthetic to numb the eye, the surgeon applies a freezing probe to the outer surface of the eye directly over the tear. The freezing causes a scar that helps secure the retina to the eyewall. Recommended For:
  •  Patients that have had cataract surgery in the past or have suffered a severe direct blow to the eye