Can you take a plane with a detached retina?

Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Retinal detachment and flying are divided into pre-surgery and post-surgery considerations. Before retinal detachment surgery, it is generally permissible to fly, as this typically does not significantly impact the symptoms of retinal detachment. However, what occurs after the surgery must be considered. If, after surgery, only silicone oil is used as a filler, flying is permissible as it does not affect pressure changes. However, if an inert gas is used as a filler after retinal detachment surgery, it can expand due to changes in air pressure at high altitudes. This expansion increases its volume, which can alter the internal pressure of the eye, potentially compressing the eyeball and the retina, leading to ischemia of the central retinal artery. In such cases, where inert or expansible gases are filled within the eye, flying is not advisable until the gas has dissipated.

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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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How many days does retinal detachment surgery take?

Retinal detachment surgery is divided into internal and external approaches. Generally, the surgery takes about one to two hours, or two to three hours. One method involves compressing from the outside of the eardrum, pushing the eardrum inward to reattach the retina, while the other involves operating from inside the vitreous body outward to adhere the retina to the choroid. The recovery time for these surgeries generally reaches a stable condition from one to three months. The duration of the surgery depends on the complexity of the condition; it can be as quick as just over half an hour in simple cases, or up to two to three hours in complex cases. Postoperative vision recovery primarily depends on the duration and morphology of the retinal detachment, as well as the proliferation conditions of the detached retina and the vitreous body.

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Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
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What does a detached retina feel like?

The professional term for retinal detachment is "retinal detachment." It primarily refers to the separation between the neuroepithelial layer and the pigment epithelial layer of the retina. Early manifestations of retinal detachment may include mild vision loss, accompanied by floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow that obscures vision. As the condition progresses, symptoms gradually worsen, and when the macular area of the retina is involved, significant vision loss occurs.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Causes of Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment can be categorized into three main types: rhegmatogenous, tractional, and exudative. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is commonly seen in the elderly, highly myopic individuals, those having undergone trauma to the eye leading to the absence of the natural lens or having artificial lens implants, and those with a history of retinal detachment or a family history of the condition, which are risk factors. Tractional retinal detachment is caused by proliferative membranes pulling on the retina. It is observed in conditions like diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, and other ischemic retinal diseases leading to neovascular membranes, or due to proliferative scarring from penetrating eye injuries. Exudative retinal detachment typically occurs in conditions such as Coat’s disease, uveitis, and malignant hypertension.

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Written by Li Min
Ophthalmology
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How to perform surgery for retinal detachment?

Firstly, there are three types of retinal detachment: rhegmatogenous, tractional, and exudative retinal detachment. For rhegmatogenous and tractional retinal detachment, surgical treatment is generally adopted. There are two common surgical methods: one is external surgery, known as scleral buckling, and the other is internal surgery, involving vitrectomy with complex retinal detachment repositioning. The choice of surgical method requires assessment by an ophthalmology specialist before a decision can be made. Exudative retinal detachment is generally treated by addressing the underlying disease and does not require surgery.

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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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When is the second surgery for retinal detachment?

The question you asked is about when the second surgery for retinal detachment should take place, which implies that the first surgery for retinal detachment failed, necessitating a second surgery. Due to the proliferation of the retina, which generally peaks around two to three weeks, it is recommended that if the first surgery fails, the second surgery should be conducted about 10-14 days after the first surgery, which is about half a month later. This timing can help reduce the failure rate of the surgery and avoid the peak proliferation period of the retina.