Retinal Detachment (cont.)
What are the complications of surgery
for a retinal detachment?
Discomfort, watering, redness, swelling, and itching of the affected eye are all common and may persist for some time after the operation. These symptoms are usually treated with eye drops. Blurred vision may last for many months, and new glasses may need to be prescribed, especially because the scleral buckle may have changed the shape of the eye. The scleral buckle also can cause double vision (diplopia) by affecting one of the muscles that controls the movements of the eye. Other complications can include elevated pressure in the eye (glaucoma), bleeding into the vitreous, within the retina or behind the retina, clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract), or drooping of the eyelid (ptosis). Additionally, infection can occur around the scleral buckle or even more widely in the eye (endophthalmitis). Occasionally, the buckle may need to be removed.
What are the results of surgery for a retinal
detachment?
The surgical repair of retinal detachments is successful in about
80% of patients with a single procedure. With additional surgery,
over 90% of retinas are reattached successfully. Several months may
pass, however, before vision returns to its final level. The final
outcome for vision depends on several factors. For example, if the
macula was detached, central vision rarely will return to normal.
Even if the macula was not detached, some vision may still be lost,
although most will be regained. New holes, tears, or pulling may
develop, leading to new retinal detachments. If a gas or air bubble
was inserted in the eye during surgery, maintaining proper
positioning of the head is also important in determining the final
outcome. Close follow-up by an ophthalmologist, therefore, is
required. Long-term studies have shown that even after preventive
treatment of a retinal hole or tear, 5% to 9% of patients may develop
new breaks in the retina, which could lead to a retinal detachment.
Overall, however, repair of retinal detachments has made great
strides in the past 20 years with the restoration of useful
vision to many thousands of patients.
Last Editorial Review: 10/26/2007
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