What does a Detached Retina Treatment Procedure Involve?
There are five main types of detached retina treatment, laser surgery, freezing (cryopexy), pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckle, and vitrectomy. Laser surgery and cryopexy are performed to repair a tear in the retina if it is diagnosed early enough, both are done under local anesthetic. Pneumatic retinopexy works for a small tear that is easy to close, it involves injecting a tiny gas bubble into the vitreous. If your retina has completely detached, your doctor may recommend scleral buckling, which involves suturing a piece of silicone material to your sclera (the white of your eye) over the affected area. If your case is very serious, your doctor may perform a procedure known as vitrectomy. During a vitrectomy, the vitreous is removed and replaced with a saline solution. Depending on the size of the tear on your retina, your doctor may use various combinations of these detached retina treatments. For scleral buckling and vitrectomy, you may be given local or general anesthetic.