The retina is a thin, vascularized, light-sensitive nerve tissue found at the back of the eye. When it tears or somehow detaches from the outer wall it rests on, the person loses sight of the affected eye. If it is not repaired and remains unglued for a long time, the loss is irreversible. In general, surgery is mainly used to repair the damage, although the procedure does not always guarantee complete recovery of vision at the same levels as before the detachment. If you have been affected by this problem, it is vital that you go to the emergency room immediately to avoid serious irreversible complications, including blindness. It is also essential to strictly comply with post-operative instructions, in order to increase the chances of recovering the best possible vision.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Healing After a Vitrectomy
Step 1. Prepare for surgery
As with any retinal surgery, you will be asked not to eat or drink two to eight hours before the surgery. You will also need to instill eye drops to dilate the pupil before entering the operating room.
Step 2. Undergo a vitrectomy
During the procedure, the eye doctor removes the vitreous body that is inside the eyeball and removes any tissue that may be preventing the retina from healing. The eye is then filled with air, a gas or liquid to replace the vitreous body, thus allowing the retina to adhere to the back and heal.
- This is the most widely used retinal surgery procedure.
- Over time, the substance injected by the surgeon (air, gas or liquid) is reabsorbed by the eye and the body produces the fluid to fill the vitreous cavity. If your ophthalmologist used silicone oil, however, you will need to have another surgery to remove it after several months and after the eye has healed.
Step 3. Recover from surgery
After the vitrectomy you will be discharged from the hospital with a set of specific instructions to follow to take care of your eye and ensure the best possible healing. Follow them to the letter and ask your doctor questions if you are unsure. Your doctor will prescribe you to:
- Take pain relievers such as acetaminophen
- Instill eye drops and apply prescription eye ointments.
Step 4. Maintain a certain position
Following surgery, most patients are advised to keep their head stable in a particular position. This caution is essential to allow the bubble to settle in the right place, as well as to maintain the shape of the eyeball after surgery.
- Follow your ophthalmologist's directions for the posture you need to take to allow the retina to heal.
- Do not travel by plane until the gas bubble is completely absorbed. Your doctor will let you know when you can do it safely.
- The presence of the gas bubbles in the eye could cause complications during other surgical procedures. If you are going to have any subsequent surgery, let your surgeon know and before you are given the anesthetic, especially if it is nitrous oxide.
Step 5. Use an eye hygiene kit
Your surgeon may give you products to use to help your eye recover, explaining how to use them and for how long.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching any eye devices.
- Dip a cotton ball into your prescribed eye wash solution.
- Soften any encrustations that may have formed on the eyelids and rub the eye gently from the inner corner outwards. If you need to take care of both eyes, use two different wipes.
Step 6. Put on protection
Your surgeon may also provide you with protection and an eye patch. These devices shelter the eye while you sleep and when you go outdoors.
- Wear the protection for at least a week or for as long as your eye doctor recommends.
- The patch protects the eye from bright light, such as that of the sun, and prevents dirt and debris from entering it.
Method 2 of 4: Recovering from Pneumatic Retinopexy
Step 1. Prepare for surgery
Before any surgery, specific preparation instructions must be followed. Pre-operative protocols usually include:
- Fasting for a variable period of two to eight hours before the operation (liquids are also prohibited);
- Using eye drops to dilate the pupil (if directed by the surgeon).
Step 2. Undergo pneumatic retinopexy
The surgeon injects an air or gas bubble into the vitreous cavity of the eyeball. The vitreous body is a gel-like substance that helps the eye maintain its shape. The bubble should rest on the site of the retinal tear to seal it.
- When the tear is closed, there is no longer any possibility of the fluid seeping into the subretinal space. The tear will be treated with laser therapy or cryotherapy.
- Both of these therapies allow the ophthalmologist to create scar tissue and fix the retina to its location.
Step 3. Recover from the surgery
After the procedure, the surgeon will give you specific instructions for caring for your eye. There may be complications during any subsequent surgeries until the gas bubble is completely reabsorbed.
- Before being operated on again or undergoing general anesthesia, inform the surgeon of the presence of the gas bubble.
- Do not travel by plane until the gas bubbles are completely absorbed by the body. Your doctor will tell you when you can do it safely.
Step 4. Use a patch and protection
Your ophthalmologist may recommend that you put on a patch when you leave the house to protect your eye from sunlight, dust, and debris. You may also need to wear stiff protection at night to prevent damage to the eyeball from the pillow.
Step 5. Instill the eye drops
Most likely, you will be prescribed to keep your eye hydrated and to prevent infections while you are recovering.
Follow your doctor's instructions regarding their application and other medications
Method 3 of 4: Healing from a Scleral Cerclage
Step 1. Prepare for surgery
The preparation procedures apply to any type of retinal surgery. Do not eat or drink before the operation for a period of between two and eight hours (as directed by the ophthalmologist), instill eye drops to dilate the pupil, if necessary.
Step 2. Undergo scleral cerclage
During the procedure, the surgeon sutures a piece of silicone rubber or sponge, called "blocks", over the white part of the eye (sclera). The sutured material creates a slight indentation in the bulb walls, thereby relieving some of the tension from the site of the detachment.
- In cases where there are several tears or holes in the retina or when the detachment is extensive and severe, the surgeon recommends a scleral rim that surrounds the entire eyeball.
- In most cases, this cerclage is permanent.
- The ophthalmologist can use laser or cryotherapy to generate scar tissue around the retina; in this way, it seals the tear to the wall of the eye, preventing the infiltration of fluid from detaching the retina.
Step 3. Recover from the operation
At the end of the scleral cerclage, you will be discharged from the hospital and given specific instructions for caring for the eye to ensure proper healing. Follow the surgeon's directions to the letter and ask questions if in doubt. The post-operative protocol generally includes:
- Taking acetaminophen to control pain
- Use of prescription eye drops and ointments.
Step 4. Use an eye wash kit
Your doctor may recommend it to help you recover. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling the products.
- Dip a cotton ball into the eye wash solution.
- Place the cotton ball on your eyelids for a few seconds to soften the encrustations that have formed on the eye.
- Gently rub your eyelids from the inner to the outer corner. If you have to treat both eyes, use two different cotton balls to avoid the risk of infection.
Step 5. Put on protection and a patch
Your surgeon may provide you with these devices to facilitate the recovery process. You will need to use them for the time indicated by the doctor.
- Most likely, you will need to wear both the patch and the protection until your follow-up visit (usually the next day).
- You may also need to use the patch when you go outdoors to protect your eye and keep it out of direct sunlight. If you wish, you can wear sunglasses, for greater concern.
- Your eye doctor may also advise you to wear a metal shield at night for at least a week; in this way, you avoid injuries to the eye when you turn on the pillow.
Method 4 of 4: Precautions after Surgery
Step 1. Give yourself some rest time
You need to rest and recover from the procedure for a few days to even a week. During this time, you should avoid strenuous activities that can cause pain in the eye or put pressure on it.
Step 2. Keep your eyes clean
Following the surgery, you need to keep your eyes clean as much as possible until the retina is completely healed. For this reason, your ophthalmologist may advise you to:
- Be especially careful when washing, to prevent soap from getting into your eyes;
- Put on the patch or protection;
- Do not touch or rub the eye.
Step 3. Instill the eye drops
Many people experience itching, swelling, and pain after retinal surgery. Your doctor will likely prescribe eye drops or recommend over-the-counter products to manage these symptoms.
Follow the instructions of your ophthalmologist or pharmacist regarding the dosage
Step 4. Change your glasses
Some people experience blurry vision after surgery, in some cases even for many months. This is a typical consequence of scleral cerclage which changes the shape of the eyeball. If you have this condition, your ophthalmologist will give you a new prescription for your glasses.
Step 5. Don't drive and don't strain your eyesight
When you have retinal surgery, you are unable to drive a vehicle for several weeks. Many people complain of poor vision after the operation and you may be forced to wear a patch for several weeks.
- The ophthalmologist does not recommend driving during the healing process until your vision improves and the situation becomes more stable.
- Do not watch TV and do not stare at the computer monitor for a long time; these activities cause eye strain which complicates healing. After the operation, you may experience sensitivity to light and have difficulty looking at electronic screens. Prolonged reading could also be a problem.
Advice
- Do not rub, scratch or apply pressure to the eye.
- After you are discharged from the hospital following retinal detachment surgery, you become the main responsible for a good recovery. Make sure you understand your eye doctor's instructions and follow them to the letter.
- It is normal for the eye to be sore, red, watery and sensitive to light after surgery; however, these disorders gradually subside.
- In the weeks and months following the surgery, your vision will likely be blurry. Typically, this phenomenon is part of the recovery process; however, tell your ophthalmologist if you notice a sudden, severe, or worrying decrease in vision.
- Convalescence after this type of surgery is a long and slow process. The final outcome may not be clear until one year after the operation.
