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Repair of Retinal
Detachment with Scleral Buckling
What are the chances of success?
In most cases (85%) the retina can be reattached with a
single operation. Occasionally additional surgery is
necessary; this brings the final cure rate up to
approximately 95%. The final degree of clarity of vision
will not be known for three months. If you had lost your
reading vision before surgery, you should find considerable
improvement but probably not 100%. If your reading vision
was not lost before surgery, good vision will be retained
(after convalescence) in more than 90% cases. In 5% cases
the retina may not attach, necessitating further surgery.
What are the common side effects and complications of the surgery?
Your vision will be blurred. The eye will be painful, red
and swollen and there may be some mucus discharge. The pupil
will be large and you may see double. These side effects are
usually temporary and last only a few weeks. In many cases
the eye will become more near-sighted; this can be corrected
with spectacles.
Over 90% cases have no significant complications. Occasional
problems include bleeding or infection or re-detachment.
Very rarely such complications could lead to the loss of all
vision. Anaesthesia-related complications are also rare; the
anesthetist will discuss these with you.
What about the future of my retina?
If the retina remains attached for three months after
surgery, the chance of recurrence is only 10%. If the retina
of your other eye appears normal at this time, the chance of
developing a detachment later on is approximately 12% in the
eye that has not been operated.
Can retinal detachment be prevented?
In some cases the retina is more fragile and prone to
formation of holes or breaks. If these are detected and
sealed in the early stages by laser or cryosurgery, retinal
detachment can be prevented. People who are likely to
develop retinal detachment should have periodic examinations
done after dilation of the pupils. Some of the situations
where this is desirable are:
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History of detachment in one eye
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Family history of retinal detachment
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History of injury to the eye or its surrounding bones
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History of flashes and floaters
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Sudden onset of floaters or change in the character of floaters
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