Retinal Detachment Surgery

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How Do You Get Retinal Detachment?

Retinal detachment is a critical situation of which you would need emergency eye care involving a critical layer of tissue (the retina).

When the back of the eye pulls away from the layer of blood vessels that provides it with oxygen and nourishment a retinal detachment will occur. Retinal detachment leaves the retinal cells lacking oxygen. The longer retinal detachment goes untreated, the greater your risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye.

Usually, the vitreous moves away from the retina without causing problems. But sometimes the vitreous pulls hard enough to tear the retina in one or more places. Fluid may pass through a retinal tear, lifting the retina off the back of the eye — much as wallpaper can peel off a wall. When the retina is pulled away from the back of the eye like this, it is called a retinal detachment. The retina does not work when it is detached and vision becomes blurry. A retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always causes blindness unless it is treated with retina detachment surgery.


Retina Detachment Symptoms

Fortunately, retinal detachment often has symptoms that are clear warning signs. Early diagnosis and treatment of retinal detachment can save your vision.

  • Understanding retinal disease
  • Floaters and flashes
  • Metamorphopsia (distortion of vision)
  • Decreased central or peripheral vision

Retina Detachment Treatment

If you have a retinal detachment, you must have surgery to return the retina to its proper position. Without treatment, the retina will lose the ability to function, possibly permanently, and you will likely lose vision. Listed below are the treatments typically performed.

  • Scleral buckle
  • Pneumatic retinopexy
  • Vitrectomy

Is Retinal Detachment surgery often successful?

80-90% of all retinal detachment surgeries are successful.

If you have undergone successful surgery for retinal detachment, your vision may take several months to improve, and it is possible that your full vision may never return. Unfortunately, some patients do not recover any vision.

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