Both scleral buckling and vitrectomy surgery are usually performed in a hospital operating room, although a prolonged admission to the hospital is usually not required. The amount of vision restored by these procedures depends on such factors as the size and location of the damage, the length of time between the detachment and the reattachment and whether or not a hindering fibrous growth has formed on the retina. Of those people who have retinas reattached, many regain excellent vision and most of the others regain much of what was lost. All of the retina is important for good vision, but the small central portion of it, the macula, is one hundred times more sensitive than the peripheral areas. If the macula deteriorates, the affected eye will be unable to perceive detail, such as print on a page or details of another's face.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of central vision loss in adults.
There are several types of macular degeneration, but the results are similar for people affected with the disease. In these cases, the delicate tissues of the macula become thin and stop functioning. It is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina. These abnormal blood vessels leak and form scar tissue. Sometimes, the dry form of macular degeneration can progress into the wet form.