The good news about retinal tears and detachments is that most of them can be repaired. The amount of vision restored depends on the amount of the original damage and the promptness of the treatment. Anyone who has experienced symptoms of a retinal tear or detachment should contact an ophthalmologist immediately, preferably a retinal specialist. Retinal tears are easier to repair than retinal detachments. These treatments create a scar around the torn area, thereby preventing further tears or future detachment.
Retinal detachments require surgical repair.
Select retinal detachments can be repaired with pneumatic retinopexy, an in-office procedure that uses an injection of gas into the eye, in conjunction with laser or freezing, to reattach the retina. Following this procedure, the head must be held in a specific position for several days. The most common method of reattaching the retina is the surgery known as a scleral buckle. This procedure involves sewing a permanent silicone band to the outside of the eye, often with drainage of fluid from beneath the detached retina. Sometimes, in order to reattach the retina, a vitrectomy may be performed.