Retina Surgery
Retinal Surgery is usually performed during a retinal tear or a Detached Retina. Most retinal tears need to be treated by sealing the retina to the back wall of the eye with Laser Surgery or Cryotherapy (a freezing treatment). Both of these procedures create a scar that helps seal the retina to the back of the eye. This prevents fluid from traveling through the tear and under the retina, which usually prevents the retina from detaching. These treatments cause little or no discomfort.
- Laser surgery (Photocoagulation)
With laser surgery, our doctor uses a laser to make small burns around the retinal tear. The scarring that results seals the retina to the underlying tissue, helping to prevent a Retinal Detachment.
- Freezing Treatment (Cryopexy)
Scatter treatment is used to slow the growth of new abnormal blood vessels that have developed over a wider area of the retina. Your retina specialist may make hundreds of laser burns on the retina to stop the blood vessels from growing. Patients may need two or more treatment sessions
Almost all patients with Retinal Detachments must have surgery to place the retina back in its proper position. The method for fixing Retinal Detachment depends on the characteristics of the detachment. In each of the following methods, our Surgeon will locate the Retinal Tears and use Laser Surgery or Cryotherapy to seal the tear.
- Scleral Buckle
This treatment involves placing a flexible band (scleral buckle) around the eye to counteract the force pulling the retina out of place. This procedure is performed in an operating room.
- Pneumatic Retinopexy
In this procedure, a gas bubble is injected into the vitreous space inside the eye in combination with Laser Surgery or Cryotherapy. The gas bubble pushes the retinal tear into place against the back wall of the eye. The gas bubble will gradually disappear.
- Vitrectomy
This surgery is commonly used to fix a Retinal Detachment and is performed in an operating room. The vitreous gel, which is pulling on the retina, is removed from the eye and usually replaced with a gas bubble.
