Retinal Detachment

What is a retinal detachment?

If you regard the eye as a camera, the retina is the light sensitive film at the back of the eye and retinal detachment is a condition where the retina peels away from the inner wall of the eye. In most cases the retina detaches because a hole or tear has formed I the retina allowing fluid to pass underneath the retina. Most retinal detachments occur as a natural ageing process in the eye but certain people are at higher risk than others. These include people who are short sighted, those who have had cataract surgery in the past and those who have suffered a severe blow to the eye. Some types of retinal detachments can run in families but these are rare.

Management

Retinal detachments are treated with either vitrectomy surgery, a scleral buckle or a combination of the two.
A vitrectomy involves removing the gel from the back of the eye that has caused the tear and using either a laser or freezing probe to make a scar around the tear. Then a gas bubble or silicone oil bubble is inserted into the eye the support the retina while it heals. The gas bubble absorbs over 2-8 following surgery but a silicone oil bubble will require a small operation to remove it at a later date.

A scleral buckle can also be used treat certain types of retinal detachment. This involves suturing a thin silicone rubber strap to the outside of the eye to act as a ‘splint’ which causes an indentation within the eye and closes the hole. The buckle is not visible from the outside of the eye and usually remains in place permanently.

Results

Overall success rate for retinal detachment surgery is approximately 90%. This means that 1 in 10 people will require more than one operation. The reason for this are new tears forming in the retina or the eye forming scar tissue which contracts and pulls off the retina again. Some retinal detachments are harder to treat than others and the risks and benefits will be explained to you before surgery

For more information see: www.beavrs.org