Retina surgery is done to repair a hole, tear, or other damage to your retina, such as a detachment. There are a few types of surgery that can repair retinal damage. Sometimes, surgery is needed on an emergency basis to prevent permanent vision loss. Other times, surgery can be scheduled at a convenient time, and it is often done in your eye doctor's office as an outpatient. Here is a look at a few of the surgical procedures that can repair damage to your retina and possibly save your vision.
Laser And Cryosurgery For Retinal Tears
Cryopexy is a type of surgery that freezes a portion of the retina in your eye to seal it. Laser surgery accomplishes the same thing using a laser beam. Both of these treatments are used to treat retinal tears. They work by damaging the tissue around the tear so scar tissue develops that seals and stabilizes the damaged part of your retina. This keeps fluid from leaking through the tear and pushing the retina until it detaches.
Vitrectomy For Retinal Detachment
If your retina becomes detached, your eye doctor needs to repair it surgically. This is easier to do with the gel of the eye removed. This surgical procedure is a vitrectomy. The eye doctor removes the vitreous gel from your eye so he or she can use tools to reattach your retina and to repair tears or holes. Once that's done, the eye doctor replaces the gel with gas, air, or silicone oil. As you heal the replacement the gas or air is absorbed and replaced with your body's own fluids. If you have an injection of oil, the oil must be removed in a second procedure. This type of surgery is more complex than laser or cryosurgery and it may require general anesthesia and a hospital stay.
After the surgery, you'll put drops in your eyes for several days. These may include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. Your eye should heal in a few weeks, but it could take a few months for your vision to stabilize. The gas or oil bubble that's injected after the surgery will probably interfere with your vision until it is removed or absorbed. You may not know for several weeks how well the retinal surgery reversed your vision loss.
Recovery includes avoiding things that strain your eye such as heavy lifting and jogging. You also want to avoid things that put pressure on your eye such as lying flat on your back. While the gas or oil bubble is in place, you'll need to stay in one position as much as possible so the bubble holds pressure on your retina while it heals. You may need to stay on one side while you sleep or sit with your head in a set position as instructed by your eye doctor.
Retinal damage is a serious condition. Even if the damage is mild and it doesn't disturb your vision too much, you want to have surgery if your eye doctor recommends it. Surgery can prevent a tear from getting larger and that can help save you from vision loss. If your retina is detached and causing some loss of vision, surgery may be able to restore your vision and protect your eye health. It's important to follow your eye doctor's recommendation for the type of surgery to undergo as well as the steps for recovery at home so you can save your vision for as long as possible. Contact a vision clinic, like Coastal Eye Group, PC, for more help.
Share28 December 2017
After I realized that I was going to be traveling a lot for work, I realized that I didn't want to wear my contact lenses 24/7. Instead of suffering with dry, itchy, irritated eyes, I decided that it might be best to work with an eye doctor who could help me to find a pair of frames that would look great on my face. I wanted to find glasses that were just as attractive as I was, so I started looking around. I visited a great optometry office, and the doctor helped to guide me towards glasses that were perfect for my face shape. This blog is all about finding a better pair of glasses.
