Retinal detachment surgery

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Retinal detachment surgery should prevent your vision from getting worse."> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta name="referrer" content="always" /> <meta name="DC.Format" schema="DCterms:IMT" content="text/html" /><meta name="DC.Type" content="text/html"> <meta name="DC.Title" xml:lang="EN" content="Retinal detachment surgery" /> <meta name="DC.Creator" content="Healthdirect Australia"> <meta name="DC.Subject" xml:lang="EN" content="Retinal Detachment,Vision"> <meta name="DC.Publisher" content="Healthdirect Australia"> <meta name="DC.Date" scheme="ISO8601" content="2024-10-15T00:14:05.797Z"> <meta name="DC.Description" xml:lang="EN" content="A retinal detachment is where the inner layer at the back of your eye peels off. 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}; function onError(error) {}</script> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> initialiseSocialShare('socialshare-node-desktop-mode', "https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/surgery/retinal-detachment-surgery"); </script> </span> </div> <div id="readspeaker_button1" class="rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve"> <a rel="nofollow" class="rsbtn_play" accesskey="L" title="Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker" href="//app-oc.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=8207&lang=en_au&readid=mainContentArticleText&url=https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/surgery/retinal-detachment-surgery"> <span class="rsbtn_left rsimg rspart"><span class="rsbtn_text"><span>Listen</span></span></span> <span class="rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart"></span> </a> </div> </header> <div class="main_content-body-text"><nav class="cont_nav-index-table__double-col"> <h2>On this page</h2> <ul> <li><a href="#what-is">What is a retinal detachment?</a></li> <li><a href="#benefits">What are the benefits of surgery?</a></li> <li><a href="#alternatives">Are there any alternatives to surgery?</a></li> <li><a href="#involve">What does the operation involve?</a></li> <li><a href="#prepare">How can I prepare myself for the operation?</a></li> <li><a href="#complications">What complications can happen?</a></li> <li><a href="#recover">How soon will I recover?</a></li> <li><a href="#searchGeneralResults">Related information on Australian websites</a></li> </ul> </nav> <h2 id="what-is">What is a retinal detachment?</h2> <p>The retina is the inner layer at the back of your eye. The retina captures the light coming into your eye and sends this information to your brain.</p> <p>Sometimes the retina can peel off (detach), usually because of a tear. This causes your vision to be blurred or a shadow to develop in your vision.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.healthdirect.org.au/images/inline/original/retinal-detachment-surgery-illustration-37682d.png" alt="Illustration showing a normal, torn and detached retina." data-hda-inline-image> <figcaption><small>a</small> A normal retina, <small>b</small> A torn retina, <small>c</small> A detached retina.</figcaption> </figure> <h2 id="benefits">What are the benefits of surgery?</h2> <p>The aim is to prevent your vision from getting worse and your retina from detaching again.</p> <h2 id="alternatives">Are there any alternatives to surgery?</h2> <p>Sometimes the tear or hole can be treated without any surgery, by using a laser, with freezing treatment or by injecting gas into your eye.</p> <h2 id="involve">What does the operation involve?</h2> <p>Various <a href="/surgery/anaesthetics-overview">anaesthetic techniques</a> are possible, including a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic that is injected around your eye to numb it. The operation usually takes about 90 minutes.</p> <p>Your surgeon can repair any tears or holes using a laser or by freezing treatment.</p> <p>Retinal detachment surgery can involve one or more of the following techniques:</p> <ul> <li>Removing the jelly part of your eye and replacing it with air, gas or silicone oil to help keep the retina in place (vitrectomy).</li> <li>Stitching a small piece of silicone rubber (scleral buckle) onto the surface of your eye to press the wall of your eye inwards and keep the retina in place.</li> <li>Injecting a bubble of gas into your eye to float the retina back into place, and the following day using freezing treatment or a laser to fix the position (pneumatic retinopexy).</li> </ul> <h2 id="prepare">How can I prepare myself for the operation?</h2> <h3>Keeping in the same position</h3> <p>Before the operation your surgeon may ask you to keep in a certain position such as lying flat on one side. This may help to prevent more of the fluid from collecting under the retina and making the problem worse.</p> <p>If the operation is performed under a local anaesthetic, you will need to lie still and flat during the operation. If you cannot lie still and flat, let your surgeon know.</p> <p>Your face will be covered with a cloth to allow your surgeon to work on a clean surface. Air will be blown gently towards your nose. If you are claustrophobic (afraid of being in small spaces), let your surgeon know.</p> <h3>Lifestyle changes</h3> <p>If you smoke, stopping smoking will improve your long-term health.</p> <p>Try to maintain a healthy weight. You have a higher risk of developing complications if you are overweight.</p> <p>Speak to the healthcare team about any vaccinations you might need to reduce your risk of serious illness while you recover. When you come into hospital, practise hand washing and wear a face covering when asked.</p> <h2 id="complications">What complications can happen?</h2> <h3>General complications of any operation</h3> <ul> <li>bleeding</li> <li>infection</li> <li>allergic reaction to the equipment, materials or medication</li> <li>chest infection</li> </ul> <h3>Specific complications of this operation</h3> <ul> <li>heavy bleeding inside your eye</li> <li>raised pressure in your eye</li> <li>the retina becoming detached again</li> <li>development of a cataract</li> <li>double vision</li> <li>inflammation in your other eye</li> </ul> <h3>Consequences of this procedure</h3> <ul> <li>pain</li> </ul> <h2 id="recover">How soon will I recover?</h2> <p>You are expected to go home the same day.</p> <p>Regular exercise should improve your long-term health. It is important to keep still for the first few days. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.</p> <p>Do not swim or lift anything heavy until you have checked with your surgeon.</p> <p>Most people make a good recovery.</p> <p>Your surgeon will tell you if new glasses will improve your vision, or if you need surgery to remove a cataract.</p> <h2>Summary</h2> <p>A retinal detachment is a common problem where the inner layer at the back of your eye peels off. Retinal detachment surgery should prevent your vision from getting worse.</p> <small><strong>IMPORTANT INFORMATION</strong></small><br /> <p><small>The operation and treatment information on this page is published under license by Healthdirect Australia from EIDO Healthcare Australia and is protected by copyright laws. Other than for your personal, non-commercial use, you may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any of the information. The information should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you. Medical Illustration Copyright © Medical-Artist.com.</small></p> <p><small>For more on <a href="/source-references-for-surgical-procedure-information">how this information was prepared, click here</a>.</small></p></div> <p>Learn more here about the <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/about-our-content">development and quality assurance of healthdirect content</a>.</p> <p>Last reviewed: September 2024</p> <div class="main_content-back-to-top"><a href="#backToTop"><i class="dor-icon_caret-up"></i><br><span class="tablet-up__inline">Back To </span>Top</a></a></div> </main>  <section class="main_content-links print-hidden"> <section class="related-pages-section"> <h2>Related pages</h2> <ul> <li> <a href="/retinal-detachment" title="Retinal detachment">Retinal detachment</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="related-concept-section"> <h2>Search our site for</h2> <ul> <li> <a class="dor-button__pill-btn" href="/search-results/Vision" title="Search results for:Vision">Vision</a> </li> <li> <a class="dor-button__pill-btn" href="/search-results/Eye" title="Search results for:Eye">Eye</a> </li> <li> <a class="dor-button__pill-btn" href="/search-results/Vision Impairments" title="Search results for:Vision Impairments">Vision Impairments</a> </li> <li> <a class="dor-button__pill-btn" href="/search-results/Blindness" title="Search results for:Blindness">Blindness</a> </li> </ul> </section> </section>  <section class="main_content-search"> <header> <h2>Need more information?</h2> <p>These trusted information partners have more on this topic.</p> </header> <div class="main_content-general-text"> <div> <div class="main_content-search-results-partners"> <nav class="dor-tabs__2 veyron-search-tabs" role="tablist"> <label class="dor-tabs_item" role="tab" aria-controls="searchGeneralResults" aria-selected="true"> <input type="radio" checked name="tab"> <div class="dor-tabs_item-btn veyron-search-tab-btn">General search results</div> </label> <label class="dor-tabs_item" role="tab" aria-controls="searchProfessionalResults" aria-selected="false"> <input type="radio" name="tab"> <div class="dor-tabs_item-btn veyron-search-tab-btn">Results for medical professionals</div> </label> </nav> <section id="searchGeneralResults" data-total-records="7"> <p>Top results</p> <a href="https://mydr.com.au/eye-health/retinal-detachment/" data-partner-url="partners/mydr" class="main_content-search-tile" target="_blank" data-guid="ECM001|be1b81c8-29b4-48b2-b79f-eedc23db9a88"> <h3>Retinal detachment - myDr.com.au</h3> <div class="main_content-search-tile-intro"> <p>Retinal detachment (detached retina) is a medical emergency when the retina becomes separated from the inside of the eye. 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