Who gets a retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment can occur at any age, though you are more likely to develop the condition if you:

• Are short-sighted

• Have history of injury or trauma to the eye

• Have family history of retinal detachment

What can be done?

Retinal detachment is most commonly caused by having retinal tear. If we want to catch the problem at an early stage before it develops into a full blown detachment, consult an eye doctor urgently when you see floaters. Retinal tears can also be silent and detected during an eye screening. The treatment is so much simpler for a retinal tear. 

Small retinal tears are treated with laser procedure or a freeze treatment called retinal cryotherapy.

If your retina has already detached, your eye doctor will perform surgical procedures that may include one or more of the following:

1. Scleral buckling that involves the use of a tiny synthetic band that is tightened around the eyeball to gently push the wall of the eye against the detached retina.

2. Vitrectomy is the surgical removal of the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills the center of the eye and helps the eye maintain its round shape. It is often performed in combination with injection of gas bubble or silicone oil into the eye to push the retina back against the inside wall of the eye. You will be required to stay in a certain posture following the injection to position the gas bubble right at the detached retina. You will not be allowed to travel in an airplane until the gas bubble disappears. Air travel is permissible with silicone oil. I will explain which is the better option for you.

Will my vision improve after the surgery?

Over 90 percent of retinal detachments can be successfully treated. Sometimes a second treatment is needed if scarring occurs as part of the healing process, leading to a re-detachment.