How to Treat Retinal Detachment: Effective Medical Procedures and Recovery Tips

The retina is a small piece of light-sensitive nerve tissue and blood vessels that lines the back of the eye . When it is torn or detaches from the wall of the eye, you lose your vision. If the retina is not repaired and remains detached for a long time, the vision loss can become permanent . Surgery is almost always the recommended method for reattaching the detached retina, although it cannot always restore vision to its original state . If your retina has detached, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention to avoid serious and irreversible complications, including blindness. It is equally important to follow post-operative instructions carefully to ensure the best possible chance of regaining as much of your sight as possible.

Healing after a vitrectomy

Prepare for surgery. As with other retinal surgeries, you will need to refrain from eating or drinking for two to eight hours before the procedure. You may be asked to use eye drops to dilate your pupils before surgery.

Undergo vitrectomy. During a vitrectomy, your doctor will remove the vitreous fluid inside the eyeball and the tissue that is preventing the retina from healing. The doctor will then fill the eye with air, gas, or liquid to replace the vitreous humor, which will allow the retina to reattach and heal. .

• This procedure is the most commonly performed type of retinal surgery. Over time, the substance (whether it's air, gas, or liquid) your doctor injected is absorbed into the eye, and your body will produce a fluid that fills the eye socket. However, if your doctor used silicone oil, they will need to remove this oil after several months when the eye has healed

Recover from the procedure. After a vitrectomy, your doctor will send you home with specific eye care instructions to help you heal completely. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and ask questions if you're not sure what to do. Your doctor may ask you to do the following:

• take a painkiller like paracetamol
• use prescription eye drops or ointments

Stay in position. After a vitrectomy, most patients are asked to keep their head stable in a certain position. This position is vital to allow the bleb to settle into the correct position. It can also help maintain the shape of the eye after surgery.

• Follow your doctor's instructions regarding the position to be adopted to allow the retina to heal.
• Do not fly until the gas bubble has been completely absorbed. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to fly again. .
• A gas bubble in the eye can cause complications during other surgical procedures. Let your doctor know you have a bubble in your eye before any surgery and before giving you a general anesthetic, especially nitrous oxide.

Use an eye patch . Your doctor will give you an eye patch to help your eye heal. They will tell you how to use it and how long you can continue to use it. .

• Wash your hands with soap and water before handling anything that will be near your eye. .
• Soak cotton balls in the prescribed solution to clean your eyes .
• Soften the crust that has formed on your eye, then gently wipe the eye from the inside out. If you are treating both eyes, use separate cotton balls for each eye.

Wear an eye patch. Your doctor may give you an eye patch to help your eye heal. This helps protect your eye while you sleep or are outdoors.

• Wear the eye patch for at least one week or as long as prescribed by your doctor.
• The eye patch will help protect your eye from bright lights, such as the sun, and protect it from dirt that might get into it.

Healing after pneumatic retinopexy

Prepare for surgery. Before any surgery, your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare. Here are several common practices for preparing for surgery.

• Avoid eating and drinking for two to eight hours before surgery.
• Use eye drops to dilate the pupils (if your doctor tells you to do so).

Undergo pneumatic retinopexy. Pneumatic retinopexy involves the doctor injecting an air or gas bubble into the vitreous humor of the eye. The vitreous humor is the jelly-like substance that helps the eye maintain its shape. The bubble must land on the site of the torn retina to close the opening.

• Once the tear site is closed, there will no longer be any fluid leaking behind the retina. The tear will then be treated with laser or cold therapy. .
• Your doctor will use laser or cold treatment to create a scar that will hold the retina firmly in place

Healing after surgery. After the procedure, your doctor will give you instructions on how to care for your eye. Until the gas bubble in the eye is completely absorbed, it could cause complications during future surgeries.

• Let the doctor know that you have a gas bubble in your eye before receiving general anesthesia or before having surgery 
• Do not fly until the bubble has been completely absorbed. Your doctor will advise you when it is safe to fly again

Use an eye patch. Your doctor will recommend wearing an eye patch when you leave the house to protect your eye from sunlight and dirt. You'll also want to wear one when you sleep to prevent damage from resting your head on a pillow.

Use eye drops. Your doctor will likely prescribe eye drops that will keep your eyes moist and protect them from infection while they heal.

• Follow your doctor's instructions for how to apply drops and other medications

Healing after eye banding

Prepare for the procedure. The same basic preparation applies to all retinal surgeries. Do not eat or drink anything for two to eight hours before surgery (your doctor will tell you to), and use eye drops to dilate your pupils if your doctor tells you to.

Undergo eye rimming. During this procedure, the doctor will place a piece of silicone or sponge around the white of the eye. The installed material will create a small bump on the wall of the eye, which will relieve some of the pressure on the area where the retina has detached.

• In cases where there are more tears or holes in the retina or when the detachment is large and severe, the surgeon might recommend an eye band around the entire eye.
• In most cases, the rim is left permanently on the eye.
• Your doctor may use laser or cold therapy to create a scar around the retina. This will close the tear in the eye wall, preventing fluid from detaching the retina.

Healing after surgery. After eye banding, your doctor will send you home with specific instructions for caring for and healing your eye. Follow their instructions and ask questions if you're not sure what to do. Here's what they might ask:

• take paracetamol for pain relief 
• use eye drops or ointments

Use an eye patch . Your doctor may give you an eye patch to help your eye heal. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling the eye patch..

• Soak cotton balls in the prescribed solution .
• Run the cotton balls over your eyelids for a few seconds to soften any crusts that may have formed on the eye.
• Gently wipe the eye from the inside out. If treating both eyes, use separate cotton balls for each eye to avoid the risk of infection.

Wear an eye patch. Your doctor may provide you with an eye patch or blindfold to protect your eye. The length of time you should wear it depends on your doctor's recommendations.

• You will likely need to wear the eye patch over your eye until your follow-up visit (usually the following day).
• You should wear the eye patch outside to protect your eye from sunlight. You can also wear dark sunglasses to protect your eye while it heals.
• Your doctor may direct you to wear a metal eye patch while you sleep for at least a week. This will prevent eye injuries if you roll over on your pillow.

Take precautions after the procedure

Give yourself time to rest. For several days and up to a week, you'll need time to rest and recover from the procedure. During this time, you should avoid strenuous activities and activities that put pressure or discomfort on your eye.

Keep your eyes clean. After surgery, you must keep your eyes as clean as possible until the retina is completely healed. To do this, your doctor will recommend the following:

• be very careful when showering to avoid getting soap in your eye
• wear an eye patch to protect your eye
• avoid touching or rubbing your eye

Use eye drops. Most people experience itching, redness, swelling, and discomfort after retinal surgery. Your doctor will likely prescribe eye drops or recommend over-the-counter eye drops to treat symptoms.

• Follow your doctor or pharmacist's instructions for the correct dosage.

Adjust your glasses. Some people may experience blurry vision after retinal surgery, and this can last for months in some cases. This is usually the result of eye rimming, which changes the shape of the eyeball. If your vision becomes blurry, your doctor will prescribe new glasses to correct the problem.

Avoid driving or straining your eyes. Once surgery is complete, you will likely be unable to drive for several weeks. Many people experience blurred vision after retinal surgery, and you may need to wear an eye patch for several weeks.

• While your eye is healing, your doctor will recommend that you avoid driving until your vision improves or your condition becomes more stable.
• Avoid watching television or computer screens for extended periods. This can strain your eyes, which will prolong the healing time. You may also experience light sensitivity after surgery, and it may be difficult to look at screens. Reading for extended periods may also be difficult 

Advice

• Avoid rubbing, scratching, or pressing on your eye.
• Once you leave the hospital after your retinal reattachment surgery, you will be solely responsible for your recovery. Make sure you understand your doctor's instructions and follow them exactly.
• It is normal to experience some pain, redness, tearing, and sensitivity to light after this type of surgery, but this should gradually decrease.
• Your vision will likely be blurry for a few weeks or even months after surgery. This is usually a normal part of the healing process. However, inform your doctor of any sudden, drastic, or concerning changes in your vision.
• Recovery from retinal reattachment surgery is long and slow. The final results of the procedure may not be known for up to a year after surgery.

Warnings

• Call your eye doctor or surgeon immediately if you notice changes in your vision, signs of infection such as fever and chills, redness, inflammation, bleeding, excessive discharge from the eye, difficulty breathing, cough, chest pain, severe or persistent pain, or new symptoms.