Retinal detachment repair

Alternative names:

scleral buckling

Definition:

Emergency surgical procedure to repair a retinal injury (retinal detachment).

Description:

The retina can become partially or completely detached as a result of injury, disease, or tumors. If the retina has a tear or hole but has not become completely detached, it can be repaired in one of two ways. A laser treatment (photocoagulation) can be used to form a scar that holds the retina to the underlying tissue. The other treatment, cryopexy, uses an intensely cold probe (cryoprobe). This produces an inflammation that leads to formation of a scar which holds the retina to the underlying tissue.

Surgical reattachment of the retina is usually done by applying pressure against the outside of the eye (sclera) into the retina (scleral buckling). A piece of soft material (silicone) is wrapped around and stitched to the outside of the sclera.

Indications:

Emergency retinal detachment surgery is necessary to prevent vision loss.