Retinal detachment repair

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Detached retina

Scleral buckling; Vitrectomy; Pneumatic retinopexy; Laser retinopexy

The chances of successful reattachment of the retina depend on the number of holes, their size, and whether there is scar tissue in the area.

Most of the time, the retina can be reattached with only one operation, although some people need several surgeries. Less than 10% of detachments cannot be repaired. Failure to repair the retina always leads to poor or no vision in the eye.

After surgery, the quality of vision depends on where the detachment occurred:

• If the central area of vision was not involved, vision will usually be very good.
• If the central area of vision was involved for less than 1 week, vision will usually be improved, but not 20/20 (normal).
• If the central area of vision was detached for a long time, vision will return, but it will not be sharp.

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The procedures usually do not require an overnight hospital stay.

You will need to limit activities for some time.

If the doctor repaired the retina using the gas bubble procedure, you must keep your head face down or turned to one side for several weeks. It is important to maintain this position so the gas bubble pushes the retina in place. Patients with a gas bubble in the eye may not fly.

Review Date: 02/22/2007
Reviewed By: Manju Subramanian, MD, Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery, Boston University Eye Associates, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).