Retinal Detachment
Retinal Detachment
A retinal detachment occurs when the nerve tissue that lines the inside of the eye separates from the back wall of the eye, like wallpaper peeling off a wall. When the retina is detached, it is separated from its blood supply and no longer functions properly.
When the retina is detached, it is separated from its blood supply and no longer functions properly.
The typical symptoms of a retinal detachment include floaters, flashing lights, and a shadow or curtain in the peripheral (noncentral) vision that can be stationary (non-moving) or progress toward, and involve, the center of vision.
Risk factors for developing a retinal detachment include
• Family history of retinal tears or retinal detachment
• Previous retinal detachment
• Advanced age
• Previous eye surgery, such as cataract surgery
• High myopia (extreme near-sightedness)
• Lattice degeneration (thinning in the peripheral retina, or the area outside of the central retina.)
• A history of trauma
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to re-attach the retina to the back of the eye and seal the tears or holes that caused the retinal detachment. Several approaches can be employed to repair a retinal detachment. Based on the characteristics of the detachment, your retinal surgeon can determine which approach is the most appropriate. In general, retinal detachment repairs succeed about 9 out of 10 times, though sometimes more than one procedure is required to successfully re-attach the retina. Possible procedures include:
Scleral buckle—A silicone band is placed outside the eye to push the wall of the eye toward the retinal tear to close it. The tear is treated with a freezing treatment to induce controlled scarring around the tear and permanently seal it. The fluid under the retina is sometimes removed at the time of surgery.
Vitrectomy—Three small incisions (about 0.5 mm in size) are made in the white part of the eye and fine instruments are manipulated in the eye using an operating microscope to remove the vitreous gel that fills the eye and drain the fluid from under the retina. A laser is used to seal the retinal tears or holes. The eye is then filled with a gas or oil bubble to hold the retina in place while it heals.
Pneumatic retinopexy—In this office-based procedure, a gas bubble is injected into the eye and the patient maintains a specific head posture to position the gas bubble over the retinal tear. The tear itself is sealed either with a freezing treatment at the time of the procedure, or with laser after the retina is re-attached.
Laser surgery—In certain cases, a retinal detachment can be walled off with laser to prevent the retinal detachment from spreading. This is generally appropriate for small detachments.
The retinal surgeons at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford are dedicated to restoring and preserving your sight and have access to the most advanced technologies and techniques available to repair your detached retina.
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Byers Eye Institute at Stanford
2452 Watson Court
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 650.723.6995
Fax: 650.725.6619