How to Recover from Retinal detachment treatment

The retina is a thin layer of nerve tissue that senses light, includes blood vessels, and is located at the back of the eye. ^{[1] X Source of Study} When the retina is torn or detached from the wall of the eyeball, vision is lost. If the retina is detached for a long time without treatment, you will lose your vision permanently. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Surgery is almost always the method to reattach the retina, although it does not always successfully restore vision to its original condition. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} After retinal detachment you must seek immediate treatment to avoid serious irreversible complications, including the possibility of blindness. Reattachment of the retina and implementation of postoperative instructions are prerequisites to ensure maximum vision recovery.

Table of Contents

Recovering from liquid crystal surgery

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Prepare for surgery. As with other retinal surgery, you must abstain from eating or drinking anything for 2-8 hours before the procedure. You are also instructed to use eye drops to dilate your pupils. ^{[4] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Transfusion crystal surgery. This surgery will remove the vitreous in the eyeball and any tissue that is preventing the retina from recovering. The doctor then injects air, gas, or another fluid that replaces the vitreous so that the retina can stick back and heal. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

This is the most common retinal surgery procedure. ^{[6] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
Over time, the substance injected by the doctor (air, gas or fluid) is absorbed by the eye and the body produces new fluid to fill the eyeball. However, if the doctor uses silicone oil, they must surgically remove the oil after a few months when the eye has healed. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Recovery after surgery. Before going home, your doctor will give you careful instructions on how to take care of your eyes to ensure a full recovery. Follow their instructions and ask them what’s unclear. Your doctor can instruct you to:

Taking pain relievers like acetaminophen ^{[8] X Research Source}
Using prescription eye drops or ointments ^{[9] X Source of Study}

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Hold the head steady. After surgery, most patients are instructed to keep their head still in a specific position. This is called “head positioning,” which is important to help the balloons get into the right position ^{[10] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to the source} and maintain eye shape. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Follow your doctor’s instructions for a head position to help your retina heal. ^{[12] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
Do not fly until the air bubbles have been completely absorbed. Your doctor will let you know when you can fly again. ^{[13] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
Having air bubbles in the eye is a cause of complications in other surgeries. Tell your doctor about air bubbles in your eye before any future surgery and before anesthesia, especially nitrous oxide. ^{[14] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Recovery after the procedure of inflating air into the eye

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Prepare for surgery. As with all surgical procedures, you are given specific preparation steps before the procedure. Usually the preparation includes:

Avoid consuming any food or drink 2-8 hours before surgery ^{[22] XTrusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source}
Use eye drops that dilate your pupils (if ordered by your doctor) ^{[23] XTrusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source}

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Perform the procedure of injecting air into the eye. The doctor does this by injecting air or gas bubbles into the space containing the fluid crystal. Translation crystals are gelatinous blocks that help maintain eye shape. ^{[24] X Source of Study} The air bubble must press against the torn retina to help seal the site. ^{[25] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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 freezing. ^{[26] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
The doctor applies laser treatment or freezing to create scar tissue that holds the retina in place. ^{[27] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Recovery after surgery. After surgery, the doctor will give specific instructions on how to take care of your eyes. The disease can still cause complications in later surgeries if the air bubbles are not completely absorbed.

Tell your doctor about air bubbles in your eye before surgery or anesthesia. ^{[28] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}
Do not fly until the air bubbles in the eye have been completely absorbed. Your doctor will let you know when you can fly again. ^{[29] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Use patches and cover your eyes. Doctors often recommend using an eye patch when leaving the house to protect the eyes from sunlight and dust/foreign objects. You may need to wear an eye patch while you sleep to prevent potential injury while lying on your pillow. ^{[30] X Research Source}

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Use eye drops. You’ll usually have to use eye drops to keep them moist and prevent infection while you wait for your eye to heal. ^{[31] X Research Source}

Follow your doctor’s instructions about using eye drops and other medications. ^{[32] X Research Source}

Recovery after scleral compression procedure

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Prepare for surgery. Basic preparatory work applies to all retinal surgeries. Do not eat or drink anything for 2-8 hours before surgery (your doctor will tell you to), and use eye drops that dilate your pupils (if your doctor directs you to do so). ^{[33] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Perform scleral compression. The procedure is done by stitching a silicone band, called an implant, to the white of the eye. This sutured material creates a slight depression in the eyeball wall, thereby releasing some of the tension at the site of retinal detachment. ^{[34] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

In cases where there are multiple tears/perforations in the retina or when the detachment is large and severe, the doctor usually recommends using a scleral band to wrap around the eye. ^{[35] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
In most cases, the implant is left in the eye permanently. ^{[36] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Your doctor may treat it with laser or freezing to create scar tissue around the retina. This method helps to connect the tear of the retina to the wall of the eyeball, preventing the vitreous fluid from detaching the retina. ^{[37] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Recovery after surgery. After the scleral implant is placed, your doctor will give you careful instructions on how to take care of your eyes when you go home to ensure a full recovery. Follow your doctor’s instructions and ask them what’s unclear. Postoperative instructions usually include:

Take acetaminophen for pain ^{[38] X Research Source}
Using prescription eye drops or ointments ^{[39] X Source of Study}

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Wear eye box. Your doctor may have you wear an eye box to help with your recovery. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling any device intended for your eyes. ^{[40] X Research Source}

Wet a cotton ball in the eyewash solution prescribed by your doctor. ^{[41] X Research Source}
Place the cotton ball horizontally on the eyelid for a few seconds to soften the scab that forms on the eye. ^{[42] X Research Source}
Gently wipe your eyes from the inside out. If you are treating both eyes, use a separate cotton ball for each eye to prevent infection. ^{[43] X Research Source}

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Wear eye patch and eye patch. Your doctor may have you wear patches and an eye patch to help your eye heal. How long to wear depends on your doctor’s recommendations.

You will usually have to wear both the eye patch and the eye patch at least until your next follow-up visit (usually the next day). ^{[44] X Research Source}
Wear an eye patch when outdoors and shield your eyes from direct sunlight while it heals. You can also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes while you recover. ^{[45] X Research Source}
You may need to wear a metal eye patch while you sleep for at least a week. This is to prevent injury to your eyes in case you roll your head on the pillow. ^{[46] X Research Source}

Post-surgery precautions

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Take time to relax. For a few days or a week after surgery, you will need time to rest and recover. During this time you should avoid all strenuous activities and activities that cause strain or discomfort to your eyes. ^{[47] X Research Sources}

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Keep your eyes clean. After surgery, you must maintain good eye hygiene until the retina is completely healed. Doctors usually recommend that you:

take extra care when showering to avoid soap getting into eyes ^{[48] X Research Source}
wearing eye patch or covering ^{[49] X Research Source}
avoid touching or rubbing eyes ^{[50] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source}

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Use eye drops. Many people experience itching, redness, swelling, or discomfort after retinal surgery. Doctors often prescribe eye drops or recommend over-the-counter eye drops to treat these symptoms. ^{[51] X Research Source}

Follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions for small doses.

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Correction of eyes with prescription glasses. Some people experience blurred vision after retinal surgery, and the condition can last for months. The reason is that the scleral belt changes the shape of the eyeball. If you have blurred vision, your doctor will prescribe glasses to correct the problem. ^{[52] X Research Source}

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Avoid driving or focusing your eyes too much. After retinal surgery you usually won’t be able to drive for several weeks. Many people also have blurred vision and they are forced to wear an eye patch for weeks. ^{[53] X Research Sources}

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. ^{[54] X Research Source}
Avoid watching television or looking at computer screens for long 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 feel uncomfortable every time you look at the screen of an electronic device. Reading for a long time also makes you uncomfortable. ^{[55] X Research Source}

Advice

Avoid rubbing, rubbing or putting pressure on your eyes.
After retinal detachment surgery and home discharge, you are primarily responsible for your ability to recover, so you must understand your doctor’s instructions to follow.
Pain, redness, tearing, and sensitivity to light are common post-surgery symptoms, but they go away slowly.
Vision may be blurred for a few weeks or months afterward, but this is normal during the healing process. However, you must inform your doctor of any sudden or disturbing changes in vision.
Recovery from retinal detachment surgery is a slow process over a long period of time. You may not know the final results until a year after surgery.

Warning

Call your doctor or surgeon right away if you notice a change in your vision; signs of infection such as fever and/or chills; redness, swelling, bleeding, or heavy discharge in the treated eye; shortness of breath, cough or chest pain; severe and/or persistent pain; or any new symptoms appear.

Steps