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Scleral buckling; Vitrectomy; Pneumatic retinopexy; Laser retinopexy
Retinal detachment repair is eye surgery to place a detached retina back into its normal position.
A detached retina means the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye has separated from its supporting layers.
This article describes the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments -- retinal detachments that occur due to a hole or tear in the retina.
Most retinal detachment repair operations are urgent. A detached retina lacks oxygen, which causes cells in the area to die. This can lead to blindness.
If holes or tears in the retina are found before a detachment occurs, an ophthalmologist can close the holes using a laser. This is usually done in the doctor's office.
If the retina has just started to detach, a procedure called pneumatic retinopexy may be done to repair it.
Severe detachments need more advanced surgery. The following procedures are done in a hospital or outpatient surgery center:
For some complex detachments, both procedures may be done during the same operation.
Retinal detachments do not improve without treatment. Repair is needed to prevent permanent vision loss.
The urgency of the surgery depends on the location and extent of the detachment. If the detachment has not affected the central vision area (the macula), surgery should be done quickly, usually the same day. This is necessary to prevent further detachment of the retina and to increase the chance of preserving good vision.
If the macula detaches, the surgery can still be done to prevent total blindness, but the vision will not be as good. If the macula has already detached, it is already too late. Eye doctors can wait a week to 10 days to schedule surgery.
Connolly BP, Regillo CD. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In: Tansman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane's Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 27.
Williams GA, Aaberg TM Jr. Techniques of scleral buckling. In: Tansman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane's Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 59.
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