Detached Retina Surgery

Retinal detachment is defined as a surgical procedure to correct the defect in the retina as a result of puncturing or rupturing it and then separating it from the surrounding tissues within the eye. This leads to fluid leakage and accumulation behind the retina and, subsequently, separation.

Retinal detachment surgery has largely evolved that it does not often involve pain, stitching, or wounds due to its reliance on the laser, and the patient can restore his vision at the same previous level. Retinal detachment surgery involves satisfied results, since it has very high success rates.

The treatment of retinal detachment through surgical intervention by the ophthalmologist and retinal surgery specialist when the patient starts to feel some of the symptoms that affect the quality of clarity of the images he sees, and most important to consult the ophthalmologist is to see what is known as "flying fly" or black threading that reduce the clarity of things around him because of the disappearance of light in some spots seen by the eye, in addition to the lack of clarity of colors and inability to see details of things.

Before retinal detachment is performed, the ophthalmologist and retinal surgery specialist performs a number of important tests:

• Blood tests.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG).
• Eye examinations include taking measurements.
• Fundoscopy.

Retinal detachment treatment may be associated with a number of complications, including:

• Redness of eye after retinal detachment.
• Itching in the eye.
• Blurred of vision.
• Double vision.
• Glaucoma.
• The emerging of cataract problem in the eye.
• Bleeding inside or behind the retina.
• Drooping eyelids.
• Infection in the eye or the inflammation (endophthalmitis).

Retinal detachment treatment procedure includes the following stages:

• Preparing for the surgery: the patient is anesthetized locally through the use of a narcotic drop of the eye, and may be given intravenous sedation for further comfort during the operation.

Prior to this, the patient is asked not to use any medications that may cause bleeding such as aspirin, ibuprofen, etc., as well as using an antibiotic drop for a day or two before the operation to avoid any infection or inflammation. The patient must refrain from eating and drinking for 12 hours before the operation.

• During the surgery: ophthalmology and retinal surgery specialists often resort to several ways to repair retinal detachment, including:

1. The method of pneumatic retinopexy (fixing the retina by compressed air), by injecting a bubble of gas inside the eye in vitreous cavity, and then work to let this bubble float in the opposite direction of the hole in the retina to push it back, then the surgeon uses laser beams to seal the hole completely.
2. The method of vitrectomy is performed by making an incision in the outer membrane of the eye (eye sclera), removing the vitreous fluid to relieve pressure on the retina, then using laser or cryotherapy to repair holes or tears in the retina, and then replacing the vitreous with gas to help reorient the retina. In other cases, silicone oil may be added to the gas substitute but must be removed after a certain period of approximately 3 months, in agreement with the specialist of ophthalmology and retinal surgery.
3. Cryotherapy; it allows the torn retina to get back into its place by using freezing probe on the damaged site.
4. Photocoagulation: Laser beams used to repair hole or torn in the retina that’s not detached, it is done by allowing the laser to burn around the damaged site in retina, which helps returning the retina to the back of eye.
5. Scleral buckling: it performs by placing a band to make pressure on the eye walls to force the retina to get back into its place. It is possible to undergo scleral buckling in combination with vitrectomy, also it is accompanying with cryopexy and retinopexy. Scleral buckling performed in severer retinal detachment cases.

• After the surgery: the patient can leave the clinic immediately after the operation. He is asked to keep the head in a certain position (down) for several days; to keep the gas bubble in the right place inside the eye.

The patient may return to his job and normal activities within two to three days, and the vision after the retinal detachment may improve within a week or so. Retinal detachment is often associated with no pain.

The patient should stay in touch with the retina specialist responsible for him to avoid any complications and continue to verify the success of the operation.