Retinal detachment surgery consists of the reattachment of the retina to the back of the eye and sealing any holes or deficiencies in the retina. Retinas can detach from the eye because of these holes or deficiencies, which in turn cause weakness in the attachment and eventual detachment. If left untreated by retinal detachment surgery, blindness can occur.

The Retina

The retina is a small, thin layer of cells behind the eye. It is the part of the eye responsible for converting light into signals that can be interpreted by the brain and the nervous system. The retina accomplishes this goal through the use of “photoreceptor cells” which receive the light energy and pass it through the neurons of the retina and passes it to the brain and nervous system in the form of “action particles”.

At the center of the retina is the “optic disc” which is also sometimes known as the blind spot because it contains no photoreceptors. The retina has three layers of nerve cell tissue and two layers of synapses, which are specialized “ports” through which cells signal to one another involving a set of glands. Through this process, which I have only outlined, vision is produced through the passage of signals into the brain.

Reasons for Retina Detachment

For many, age is closely related to the need for retinal detachment surgery as weaker cells are present in the body and especially in failing eyes. The eyeball’s contents, in fact, shrink with age and this can rip the retina causing holes and problems which could cause retina detachment. Near-sighted people who have had cataract surgery and those with severe eye injuries are also at risk for retina detachment.

The Procedure and Aftermath

Retinal detachment surgery is generally routine and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The process of “pneumatic retinopexy” is one such surgical option. This involves a gas bubble being injected into the eye by the surgeon which presses the retina flat against the wall of the eye. Natural healing takes over from there and the body naturally reattaches the retina over time. A laser is used to seal the holes and to hold the retina to the back of the eyeball.

“Scleral buckling” is a surgical process which involves the laser reattachment of the retina as with pneumatic retinopexy, but also includes the use of a silicone band that holds the retina in place. This adds pressure and in theory quickens the process of healing. Finally, “vitrectomy surgery” replaces the eye fluid with air, gas, or silicone oil. This temporarily replaces the natural fluids until the retina reattaches, then the body’s natural fluids are replaced by normal biological process.