Retinal Detachment – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment at Vatsal Eye Care & Laser Centre

Detached Retina

What is retinal detachment?

Retinal cells detach from the underlying support tissue. Now the separated retina is deprived of oxygen and other important nutrients. So within few hours they will die leading to permanent loss of vision. Hence treatment is needed as soon as possible.

What is the warning sign of detached retina ?

The symptoms of the detached retina are:

·         Sudden floater - something is flying in the vision field

·         Bright flashes of light

·         Sudden decrease in vision.

·         Decrease vision field - loss of peripheral vision is important sign of retinal detachment

·         Curtain falling - some patients describe it as seeing a dark curtain falling in front of the eye.

DO NOT IGNORE THIS. IT IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION JUST LIKE HEART ATTACK…WOULD YOU IGNORE HEART ATTACK AND STAY AT HOME ? 

So please rush to the nearby retina specialist or eye specialist as soon as possible.

What are the risk factors for retinal detachment?

Some people are at higher risk!!!

·         Older age - more than 50 years 

·         Family history of retinal detachment 

·         Eye injury - any direct injury to the eye

·         Eye surgery - any kind of eye surgery external or internal 

·         Other Eye diseases like severe myopia (nearsightedness), uveitis, retinal tears etc. 

·         Chronic diseases like long-standing diabetes and hypertension.

Retinal detachment treatment:

Like how there is a “golden hour” in the treatment of heart attack retinal detachment is also an emergency. Surgery needs to be performed in 24 to 48 hours to prevent macular detachment and permanent loss of vision. TREATMENT OPTION IS ONLY SURGERY.

·         Scleral buckling - This method includes suturing a silicon band from outside of the eye globe over the area which is detached. This band puts pressure and indents the affected retina. The vitreous body thus pushes the detached retina back to its place.

·         Vitrectomy: If problem is lying in the vitreous field then doctor will remove it and replace it with air, gas or silicone oil to put back the retina at its place. This will further flatten the detached retina.

If air/gas is used, it will get absorbed in few weeks on its own. If silicone oil is used it will have to be removed after few months.

OUR ADVICE TO YOU: 

RETINAL DETACHMENT IS LIKE HEART ATTACK TO YOUR EYES. THE FIRST 24 TO 48 HOURS ARE VERY CRITICAL.

In order to prevent permanent loss of vision, visit the eye specialist immediately. If retinal detachment surgery is not performed, you have a very high chance of going blind in the affected eye.

The eye may also become painful later. Surgery is recommended to prevent your vision from worsening and also to recover as much sight as possible. If you have a macula-on retinal detachment, it is more urgent that you schedule your surgery as soon as possible. 

The benefits of retinal detachment surgery

The most obvious benefit is that the surgery prevents you from going total blind. You have already lost some sight because of the detached retina. If the surgery is successful, it will usually bring back some, but not all of your sight. 

What are the Warning signs after the surgery?

·         Eye pain especially with nausea - This can indicate high pressure in the eye.

·         Yellow discharge (indication of infection) - crusting around the eyelids and increased watering of eye.

·         New / increase floaters or flashing of lights - can indicate retinal tear or re detachment. 

PLEASE VISIT THE EYE SPECIALIST IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS.

Answer to common FAQs of detached retina surgery:

Some swelling or a dull ache is normal for about a week after which it will gradually decrease. Swelling may worsen or last longer if you are maintaining face down positioning after surgery as instructed by your doctor. The eye will be red after surgery. You should see gradual decreasing redness over the first 3-4 weeks.

It is also common for some fluid to leak from around your eye, normal to feel slight itching, slight discomfort in the operated eye for few days. Some patients may notice a patch of red blood on the outside of the eye, in the tears or on the pillow. This is normal after retinal surgery. You can anytime call us on +918451813423 if symptoms are increasing.

Vitrectomy Recovery time: It takes generally around 4 – 6 weeks for the eyes to heal.

WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO AFTER RETINAL DETACHMENT SURGERY ?

v  Avoid rubbing your eyes continuously as it may lead to infection.

v  Avoid strenuous exercises, (swimming, weight lifting, jogging etc) for few weeks. Consult your doctor when you can resume.

v  Should you need a general anaesthesia for any reason during this time, it is important that you also tell the anaesthetist that you have had eye surgery and gas/silicone oil is in your eye.

v  Follow and adhere to the prescription of the eye drops. Throw away previously opened eye drops.

v  It is better to take at least 15 days off from work and other routine activities like excessive computer work etc.

v  Air travel should be avoided post surgery. Consult your doctor when can you safely travel.

v  Avoid splashing water into the operated eye.

v  Bathing: You can bathe below neck from the first postoperative day itself. But avoid head bath for a period of 2 weeks.

v  Use of facial cosmetics: Avoid cosmetics to the eye such as mascara, eye liners etc for at least 4 weeks.

v  You may eat and drink as normal, but try to eat as healthily as possible to avoid constipation.

v  Watching TV and reading will cause no harm.

What is posturing after the surgery?

Posturing involves placing your head in a specific position to allow the gas or oil bubble to float into the best position to support the retina. There are various posturing positions like face down, upright, on your side and your surgeon will advise you on the one appropriate for you. Posturing is often the hardest part of the recovery after surgery but is important and should be regarded as the second stage of the operation.

VISION AFTER RETINAL DETACHMENT SURGERY:

Your final vision will depend on the nature of your original detached retina. If we diagnose and treat it quickly and successfully, most of your central vision will be restored. If, the eye already has poor central vision, when we diagnose a detached retina, we might not be able to restore all of your central sight. You might not be able to read using the affected eye. From a distance, you might not recognise faces or be able to read car number plates, for example, but you will be able to see people and objects approaching you from the sides. Side vision is very important for day-today activities such as going out and climbing stairs.

What are the complications of retinal detachment surgery?

Though the success rate of surgery is good, but complications can occur. It could be

·  Dropping of eyelid & double vision – but that’s usually temporary.

·  Others could be infection, bleeding, glaucoma or cataract. However they are rare and infrequent.

·  The most common complication is chance of Retinal re-detachment. If this occurs surgeon will assess the chances of reoperation to re-attach the retina again. It is important for the patient to know that surgery may fail due to complications, or simply due to the progressive nature of the retinal disease.


ABOUT DR. PRITAM DEDHIA:

Dr Pritam Dedhia is a famous Cataract, Lasik ,Vitreoretinal Surgeon and the Director of Vatsal Eye Care & Laser Centre. He is trained from world famous institution like Aravind Eye Hospital (Madurai), B.J. Medical College   (Ahmedabad) and worked as Consultant at Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (Chitrakoot). With more than 15 years of experience in the field of ophthalmology, he has treated lots of complex cataracts, difficult Retinal diseases like Retinal Detachment, Diabetic retinopathy, ARMD, BRVO, Paediatric Retina, Retinopathy of Prematurity etc and has restored the vision of more than 10000 patients.

ABOUT VATSAL EYE CARE:

Vatsal Eye Care & Laser Centre is constantly rated as the Best eye hospital in Vasai – Virar with state of art technology, highest quality and compassionate staff providing excellent eye care treatment across all specialties. They have mastery in handling difficult ophthalmology cases like cataracts, retina, uvea, macula glaucoma as well as refractive surgeries like LASIK/ PRK/ RELEXSMILE.

Website: www.vatsaleyecare.com

Hospital contact no (Whatssap): +918451813423

ADDRESSES:

i. Vasai  Station

B-2, Panchal Nagar, Near KT Vision cinema, Navghar, Station road, Vasai West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 401202, India.  

ii. Vasai Gaon:
Opp Parnaka Police chowki Behind Nayak hotel, Parnaka Vasai West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 401201, India.