Author:
Monica Porter
Date Of Creation:
15 March 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
The retina is a thin layer of light-sensing nerve tissue, consisting of blood vessels and located at the base of the eye. When the retina tears or falls off the wall of the eyeball, vision is lost. If the retina is left untreated for a long time, you will lose vision permanently. Surgery is almost always a method to reconnect the retina, although this does not always successfully restore vision to its original condition. After detachment of your retina, you must seek immediate treatment to avoid serious irreversible complications, including possible blindness. Reattachment and postoperative instructions are prerequisite for maximum vision recovery.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Recovering after vitreous dissection surgery
Prepare for surgery. As with other retinal surgeries, you must abstain from eating or drinking anything for 2-8 hours before the procedure. They also instruct you to use eye drops to enlarge the pupils.
Crystal-translation surgery. This surgery will remove the fluid crystal in the eyeball and any tissue that is preventing the retina from recovering. The doctor then pumps air, gas, or other fluid to replace the liquid crystal so that the retina can stick back and heal.
- This is the most common retinal surgery procedure.
- Over time, the injected substance (air, gas, or fluid) is absorbed by the doctor and the body produces new fluid that fills the eyeball. However, if the doctor uses silicate oil, they will have to remove the oil after a few months when the eye has healed.
Recovery after surgery. Before going home, your doctor will instruct you carefully on how to care for your eyes to ensure complete recovery. Follow their instructions and ask them what is unclear. Your doctor can guide you:- Take pain relievers like acetaminophen
- Use prescription ointments or eye drops
Keep your head fixed. After surgery, most patients are instructed to keep their head still in a specific position. This is called "head positioning", and it is important to help air bubbles get in the right position and maintain eye shape.- Follow your doctor's instructions about head position to help your retina heal.
- Do not fly until the balloon has completely absorbed. Your doctor will let you know when it is possible to return to the plane.
- Bubbles in the eye can cause complications in other surgeries. Tell your doctor about ballooning in the eye before future surgery and before anesthesia, especially nitrogen oxide gas.
Wear eye box. Your doctor may put an eye cartridge on you to help with recovery, they will teach you how to use it and how long to use it.
- Wash hands with soap and water before handling any eye device.
- Soak a cotton ball in the eye wash solution prescribed by your doctor.
- Soften the scabs that form on the eyes and gently wipe the eyes from the inside out. If you are treating both eyes use a separate cotton ball for each eye.
Wear a mask and eye patch. Your doctor may put you on eye patch and patch to help your eyes heal. These will protect your eyes during sleep and whenever you need to go outside.
- Wear the eye patch for at least a week or as long as your doctor recommends.
- The eye patch protects your eyes from the sun and prevents dust or small objects from getting into your eyes.
Method 2 of 4: Recover from eye air injection
Prepare for surgery. As with all surgical procedures, you are guided through specific preparation steps before proceeding. Usually the preparation includes:
- Avoid consuming any food or drink 2-8 hours before your surgery
- Use dilated eye drops (if directed by your doctor)
Perform the procedure to pump air into the eye. Your doctor does this by pumping air or gas bubbles into the space containing liquid crystal. Liquid crystal is a gelatin block that helps maintain eye shape. The air bubbles must be pressed against the torn retina area to help seal the site.
- Once it has healed, the fluid in the eyeball will not be able to drain into the space behind the retina. The tear is patched by laser treatment or frozen.
- The doctor uses laser or cryotherapy to create scar tissue that holds the retina in place.
Recovery after surgery. After surgery, the doctor will give specific instructions on how to care for the eyes.The disease can still cause complications in future surgeries if the balloon is not completely absorbed.
- Tell your doctor about ballooning in your eye before performing any surgery or anesthesia.
- Do not fly in flight until the air bubbles in your eyes have been completely absorbed. Your doctor will let you know when it is possible to return to the plane.
Use patch and eye cover. Doctors often recommend using eye patch when leaving the house to protect your eyes from sunlight and dust / foreign objects. You may need to wear an eye patch while you sleep to prevent possible damage while lying on the pillow.
Use eye drops. You often need to use eye drops to keep it moist and avoid infection while your eyes heal.
- Follow your doctor's instructions for using eye drops and other medications.
Method 3 of 4: Recovering from sclera
Prepare for surgery. The basic preparation is used for all retinal surgeries. Do not eat or drink anything 2-8 hours before surgery (your doctor will ask you to), and use dilated eyedrops (if your doctor instructs you to do so).
Proceeding sclera. The procedure is done by stitching a strip of silicon tape, also called a pad, onto the white of the eye. The material stitched to the eye creates a slight depression on the wall of the eyeball, thereby releasing some of the tension at the retinal detachment site.
- In the case of multiple tears / holes in the retina or when the flaking is large and severe, the doctor usually recommends using a sclera pad around the eye.
- In most cases the pad is left in the eye permanently.
- Your doctor may treat the retina with laser or cryotherapy to create scar tissue around the retina. This method helps to connect the tear of the retina to the wall of the eyeball, preventing crystal fluid from detaching the retina.
Recovery after surgery. After the sclera is put in place, your doctor will carefully guide you on how to care for your eyes at home to ensure complete recovery. Follow your doctor's instructions and ask them what is unclear. Postoperative guidance usually includes:
- Take acetaminophen for pain relief
- Use prescription ointments or eye drops
Wear eye box. Your doctor may put you on an eye box to help with recovery. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling any eye device.
- Soak a cotton ball in the eye wash solution prescribed by your doctor.
- Place the cotton ball across the eyelids for a few seconds to soften the scabs that form on the eyes.
- Gently wipe your eyes from the inside out. If you are treating both eyes use a separate cotton ball for each eye to avoid infection.
Wear a mask and eye patch. Your doctor may put you on eye patch and patch to help your eyes heal. Wear time depends on doctor's recommendations.
- You will usually have to wear both the patch and the minimum eye patch until your next visit (usually the next day).
- Wear eyepatches when outdoors and keep your eyes out of direct sunlight while waiting for them to heal. You can also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes during recovery.
- You may need to wear a metal eye patch while you sleep for at least a week. This is to prevent eye injury in the event of rolling your knees on your knees.
Method 4 of 4: Postoperative precautions
Take time to relax. For a few days or a week after surgery, you need time to rest and recover. During this time you should avoid all strenuous activities and activities that cause eye strain or irritation.
Keep eyes clean. After surgery, keep good eye hygiene until the retina is completely healed. Doctors often recommend:
- Take extra care in the shower to avoid soap getting into your eyes
- Wear stickers or cover your eyes
- Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
Use eye drops. Many people experience itching, redness, swelling, or discomfort after retinal surgery. Your doctor often has to prescribe eye drops or recommend over-the-counter eye drops to treat these symptoms.
- Follow your doctor or pharmacist's instructions about the dosage of the drops.
Adjust your eyes with prescription glasses. Some people experience blurred vision after retinal surgery and it can last for months. The reason is that the sclerotic belt changes the shape of the eyeball. If you have blurred vision, your doctor will prescribe glasses to correct the problem.
Avoid driving or focusing too much eye. After retinal surgery you are usually not able to drive a vehicle for several weeks. Many people also suffer from blurred vision and are forced to wear eyepatches for weeks.
- While waiting for your eyes to heal, your doctor will recommend that you avoid driving until your vision improves and your eye condition is more stable.
- Avoid watching TV or looking at a computer screen for extended periods of time, as trying to focus your eyes can make recovery time more difficult. In addition, you may be sensitive to light after surgery and experience discomfort every time you look at an electronic device screen. Reading for long periods of time also makes you uncomfortable.
Advice
- Avoid rubbing, rubbing, or putting pressure on your eyes.
- After retinal detachment surgery and returning home from the hospital, you are the primary responsibility for your recovery, so you must understand your doctor's instructions to follow.
- Pain, redness, watery eyes, and sensitivity to light are common post-surgery symptoms, but they will go away slowly.
- Vision may become blurred over the next several weeks or months, but this is normal during the healing process. However, you must notify your doctor of any sudden or disturbing changes in vision.
- Recovery after retinal detachment surgery is a slow process for a long time. You may not know the end result until a year after surgery.
Warning
- Call your doctor or surgeon right away if you notice a change in vision; signs of infection such as fever and / or chills; redness, swelling, bleeding, or excessive discharge in the treated eye; difficulty breathing, coughing, or chest pain; severe and / or persistent pain; or any new symptoms that appear.
