Treatment methods for retinal detachment

Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Retinal detachment surgery primarily refers to the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. There are two methods of treatment: one is external surgery, also known as scleral buckling. This involves using a compressive object to indent the sclera to support the choroid, and then employing cryotherapy to create a sterile adhesion between the choroid and the retina, thus treating the retinal detachment. Another method is internal surgery, also known as vitreoretinal surgery. This procedure involves making three incisions in the flat part of the sclera, removing the vitreous from the inside, flattening the retina with heavy water, and using a laser to create a sterile adhesion between the retina and the choroid. Currently, the surgical treatment for retinal detachment consists of these two approaches: internal and external surgeries.

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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 Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Does retinal detachment cause eye pain?

After retinal detachment, there is usually no pain in the eye. Symptoms include low ocular pressure, blurred vision, and visual field defects, which means seeing things partially or missing a half. In such cases, it is important to actively seek an ophthalmological examination. This includes checking the uncorrected visual acuity, corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, eye ultrasound, and fundus photography. Once diagnosed, it is crucial to undergo surgery as soon as possible. The earlier the surgery is performed, the better the potential recovery of vision. Generally, there is a high possibility of restoring vision after surgery.

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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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Retinal detachment refers to the condition where the retina pulls away from its normal position.

The structure of the human eye consists of three layers: the sclera, the choroid, and the retina. Retinal detachment is not actually a separation between the retina and the choroid, but rather a separation between the neural epithelial layer and the pigment epithelial layer of the retina, which means it is a detachment between the inner nine layers and the outermost layer of the retina. Retinal detachment can be classified into three types: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, which is mainly caused by a tear in the retina allowing the vitreous fluid to enter the subretinal space; tractional retinal detachment, which occurs due to vitreous and retinal proliferation exerting traction on the retina, commonly seen in diabetic retinal detachment; and exudative retinal detachment, which is caused by accumulation of fluid between layers due to abnormal choroiditis.

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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 Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Is vitreous floaters close to retinal detachment?

Floater syndrome and retinal detachment generally have no necessary connection. Floater syndrome is the clouding of the vitreous body. Mild vitreous clouding does not affect vision and manifests as floating objects in front of the eyes. Pathological vitreous clouding that affects vision requires further examination by an ophthalmologist, including an ocular B-ultrasound to diagnose the extent of the vitreous clouding, and proactive treatment should be administered. Retinal detachment generally involves the separation of the retina from the choroid. Once a clear diagnosis of detachment is made, active treatment should be pursued promptly to restore vision as soon as possible. If the treatment is delayed, it can easily lead to retinal atrophy, resulting in the shrinkage of the eyeball.