Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Treatment after vitrectomy
• Method 2 of 4: Treatment after pneumatic retinopexy
• Method 3 of 4: Recovery from scleral indentation
• Method 4 of 4: Precautions After Surgery
• Tips
• Warnings

The retina is a thin film of light-sensitive nerve tissue and blood vessels that covers the back of the eye. When the retina breaks off or detaches from the wall of the orbit, visual impairment is observed. If this is not corrected in time and the retina is in a lagging state for a long time, the deterioration of vision can become permanent. In case of retinal detachment, surgery is almost always recommended, although such an operation does not always guarantee complete restoration of vision. If you have retinal detachment, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent further serious and irreversible changes, including blindness. You should also strictly follow all the instructions during postoperative rehabilitation in order to restore vision as fully as possible.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Treatment after vitrectomy

1. 1 Prepare for surgery. As with other surgical procedures, you will need to abstain from food and drink 2-8 hours before surgery.You may also be asked to apply eye drops to dilate your pupils before surgery.
2. 2 Get a vitrectomy. In this operation, the surgeon removes the vitreous body or part of it inside the eyeball, as well as other tissues that interfere with the healing of the retina. The doctor then fills the eye with air, another gas or liquid, restoring the vitreous humor and allowing the retina to adhere to the wall and recover.
   • This is the most common type of retinal surgery.
   • Over time, the substance (air, gas or liquid) introduced into the vitreous is absorbed by the tissues, and the body produces a liquid that fills the resulting void again. However, if a doctor has used silicone oil, they will have to surgically remove it a few months after surgery, when the eye heals.
3. 3 Recover from surgery. After your vitrectomy, your doctor will direct you home with detailed instructions on how to care for your eye for a fuller and faster recovery. Follow these instructions carefully, asking your doctor for any unclear questions. Your doctor will prescribe the following for you:
   • Take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen
   • Use eye drops or prescription ointment
4. 4 Take a certain posture. After vitrectomy, most patients are instructed to keep their head in a certain position. This is necessary in order for the bubble formed in the vitreous to take the required position. It also helps maintain the shape of the eyeball after surgery.
   • Follow your doctor's instructions for posture to help the retina heal better.
   • Do not fly an airplane after surgery until the gas bubble has completely resolved. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume flights.
   • Gas bubbles in the vitreous humor can lead to complications. Tell your doctor about all previous operations and possible gas bubbles in the eye in advance, before using anesthesia, especially if it is nitrous oxide.
5. 5 Use a special eye cleaning liquid. To speed up the healing of your eye, your doctor may prescribe you regular eye cleansing. He will tell you how long it should be done and show you how to do it.
   • Before using any eye product, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
   • Blot cotton balls in the prescribed eye wash solution.
   • Remove any hard crust from the eye, then gently wipe it from the bridge of the nose to the outer edge. If you are cleaning both eyes, use a separate cotton swab for each.
6. 6 Wear a bandage and cover. To speed up the healing of your eye, your doctor may give you a special bandage and cover. They will help you protect your eyes while you sleep and outside the home.
   • Wear the cover for at least a week after your surgery, or as long as your doctor advises.
   • The case protects your eyes from bright light (direct sunlight) and from dust and other debris.

Method 2 of 4: Treatment after pneumatic retinopexy

1. 1 Prepare for surgery. On the eve of your surgery, they will tell you how to prepare for it. Usually, before the operation, you need:
   • Refrain from eating and drinking 2-8 hours before surgery
   • Use eye drops to dilate your pupils (as directed by your doctor)
2. 2 Get pneumatic retinopexy. During this operation, the doctor inserts a bubble of air or other gas into the vitreous humor of the eye. The vitreous humor is a jelly-like mass that holds the shape of the eye. A bubble is inserted near the site of retinal detachment and pushes it back against the wall of the eye.
   • After the detachment has been eliminated, liquid can no longer penetrate into the space between the retina and the wall. The detached area is attached to the wall using a laser or by freezing.
   • Using a laser or freezing, the surgeon will create an area of ​​scar tissue that holds the retina in place.
3. 3 Recover from surgery. The doctor will tell you in detail how to care for the eye in the postoperative period. Until the gas bubble completely dissolves, it can cause complications with subsequent surgery.
   • Before surgery and anesthesia, be sure to inform your doctor about possible gas bubbles in the operated eye.
   • Do not fly an airplane until the vitreous gas bubble has completely resolved. The doctor will tell you how long it will take.
4. 4 Use an eye patch and sheath. Your doctor will likely recommend that you wear a bandage to protect your eyes from glare and dust. A bandage will help prevent eye damage from the pillow and while sleeping.
5. 5 Bury your eye. Your doctor will likely prescribe you eye drops that are designed to provide additional moisture to the eye and prevent infection as it recovers.
   • Follow your doctor's instructions when using eye drops and other medicines.

Method 3 of 4: Recovery from scleral indentation

1. 1 Prepare for surgery. Preparation includes the same measures as for other types of operations on the retina. Do not eat or drink 2-8 hours before surgery (your doctor will tell you the exact time) and use drops to dilate your pupil (as directed by your doctor).
2. 2 Get scleral indentation. In this operation, the surgeon places a piece of silicone rubber or a sponge (called a staple) on the white of the eye called the sclera. The applied material creates a slight pressure on the wall of the eye, pressing the detached retina against it.
   • In cases where the area of ​​damage is large, or the retina has detached in several places, the doctor may recommend placing a scleral ring around the entire eye.
   • In most cases, the staple stays in the eye forever.
   • The doctor can create scar tissue around the detached retinal area using a laser or freezing. This will help attach the retina to the wall of the eye and prevent fluid from seeping between them.
3. 3 Recover from surgery. After scleral indentation, your doctor will direct you home with detailed instructions on how to care for your eye to fully restore it. Follow the directions given and consult your doctor if unsure. As a rule, during the recovery process you should:
   • Take acetaminophen for pain relief
   • Use prescribed eye drops or ointment
4. 4 Use a special eye cleaning liquid. To speed up the healing of your eye, your doctor may prescribe you regular eye cleansing. Before proceeding with it, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
   • Dampen a cotton ball with the solution you prescribed.
   • Place a moistened cotton ball on the eyelid and hold it for a few seconds to allow the liquid to dissolve any hard crust that may have formed on the eye.
   • Dry the eye gently, moving from the bridge of the nose to the outer edge. If you are cleaning both eyes, use a separate cotton swab for each to reduce the risk of possible infection.
5. 5 Wear a bandage and cover. Your doctor may give you an eye patch and a cover to help your eye heal faster. The doctor will tell you how long you should use them.
   • You will most likely need to wear a bandage and cover at least until your next doctor's appointment (usually the next day).
   • Your doctor may recommend that you wear a bandage outside the home to protect the operated eye from direct sunlight. You may also need sunglasses for the same purpose.
   • Your doctor may prescribe a metal eye patch while sleeping for at least the first week after surgery. This pad will protect your eye from possible damage from the pillow.

Method 4 of 4: Precautions After Surgery

1. 1 Devote enough time to rest. For several days or even a week after the operation, it is necessary to observe the semi-bed regime.During this time, avoid any activities that require tension, and do not do anything that can tire your eyes.
2. 2 Keep your eyes clean. After surgery, care should be taken to keep the eye spotlessly clean until the retina is completely restored. To do this, your doctor will recommend you:
   • while taking a shower, protect the eye from soap
   • wear a bandage or cover to protect your eyes
   • do not touch or rub the eye
3. 3 Use eye drops. Many people experience itching, redness, swelling, and discomfort after retinal surgery. Your doctor will probably prescribe eye drops or recommend over-the-counter drops to relieve these symptoms.
   • Follow the directions given by your doctor or pharmacist regarding the dosage of the drops.
4. 4 Monitor your vision. Some people have blurry vision after surgery, and sometimes this can last for many months. As a rule, this is observed after scleral indentation and is explained by a change in the shape of the eyeball. If your vision is blurry, your doctor may prescribe new glasses.
5. 5 Do not drive a car or strain your recovering eye. After retinal surgery, you will be advised not to drive for several weeks. Many people complain of blurred vision after retinal surgery, and you may need to wear an eye patch for the first weeks.
   • During the recovery process, your doctor will advise you not to drive a car until your vision improves and becomes more stable.
   • Do not watch TV or sit at the computer for extended periods. This can tire the eye and complicate the healing process. After surgery, you may be sensitive to light and may find it difficult to look at electronic screens. Prolonged reading can be difficult.

Tips

• Do not rub or scratch your eye, do not press on it.
• When you have retinal surgery and leave the hospital, the primary responsibility for your continued recovery will fall on you. Listen carefully to the doctor's instructions, having clarified any unclear points, and strictly follow them.
• After surgery, patients often experience itching, redness, tearing, and increased sensitivity to light, but these symptoms resolve over time.
• During the first weeks or months after surgery, your vision may be blurry. It's quite normal. However, contact your doctor in case of sudden or significant changes in vision.
• Recovery from retinal surgery is a long and gradual process. Often, the final results of the operation become clear only a year after it.

Warnings

• Call your doctor or surgeon right away if you experience any of the following: significant vision changes, signs of infection (fever and / or chills), redness, swelling, bleeding or excessive discharge from the operated eye, difficulty breathing, cough or chest pain, acute and / or prolonged pain, or with other new alarming symptoms.