Retinal Detachment Surgery

Retinal detachment surgery is performed if your retina becomes detached to prevent blindness.

Your retina can become detached if it has one or more holes, called retinal tears, in the outer part of your retina. These tears allow vitreous (a jelly-like fluid substance in your eye) to pass underneath your retina and lift it off. Your retina then becomes separated from the supporting and nourishing tissues underneath it. Small blood vessels may also be damaged and bleed into the vitreous causing further clouding of your vision.

Retinal detachment surgery aims to seal any retina tears and make your retina lie flat against the inside of your eye again. It may involve:

• removing and replacing vitreous jelly inside your eye (vitrectomy)
• injecting a small air or gas bubble into your eye to push your retina back into place (pneumatic retinopexy)
• putting a tiny, flexible and permanent band around the white part of your eye that gently pushes the wall of your eye and retina closer together and helps your retina reattach (scleral buckling)
• sealing the tear in your retina with laser or freezing treatment (cryotherapy)

After retinal detachment, your vision may be restored but this depends on whether you get prompt treatment and which part of your retina is detached.

By getting retinal detachment surgery quickly, you have a greater chance of your vision being as good as it was before. The longer your retina is detached, the less likely your eyesight will fully recover. If you think you have a retinal detachment, you should seek expert help within 24 hours.

If your macula becomes detached you have the greatest risk of permanent damage to your eyesight. This is because your macula is the part of your retina that processes the central part of your vision. You may find that after surgery your sight in that eye improves but it may never fully recover.

Yes, you can watch TV after detached retina surgery.

If a gas bubble was placed in your eye during surgery, you will be asked to spend most of your time (both awake and during the night) with your head in a specific position, frequently face down. You will need to watch TV with your head in the required position.

Most retinal detachments are caused by changes to the jelly inside your eye. This can happen as you get older. A retinal detachment can also be caused by an injury or surgery.

Some people are at higher risk of retinal detachment including those who:

• are short-sighted
• have had an eye operation, such as cataract surgery
• have had a severe direct blow to their eye
• have a family history of retinal detachment, although this is rare.

The costs of a retinal detachment surgery will depend on your specialist and chosen Ramsay hospital and your exact retinal detachment surgery.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Most insurance companies provide coverage for retinal detachment surgery. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before commencing your retinal detachment surgery.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your surgery yourself. These include interest-free finance with no deposit and monthly instalments at 0% interest, a one-off pre-agreed payment for All-inclusive Total Care that comes with unlimited aftercare, and pay-as-you-go that offers flexible funding to pay as and when costs arise.

The recovery process after a retinal detachment surgery will depend on the exact surgery you have. You should follow your doctor’s advice for recovery.

Your doctor will give you eye drops after your surgery to help prevent infection.

It is normal to feel itching and mild discomfort, have sticky eyelids, and for some fluid to leak from around your eye. You should avoid rubbing your eye. Over-the-counter painkillers should help. .

You should arrange for a lift home after your operation as you will not be able to drive. Your doctor will advise when you can drive again and return to work.

You can expect to have blurry vision for a few days or even weeks after your surgery. It usually takes about two to three months after your procedure for you and your doctor to get an idea about how well you will see again. We will arrange a follow-up appointment for an eye test at this time after your procedure. You may need new glasses or contact lenses.