Treatment of retinal detachment: invasive or non-invasive?

The success of the treatment directly depends on the early detection of retinal detachment. In any case, it is necessary to perform the procedure as soon as possible, otherwise there is a risk of permanent visual impairment and even blindness.

Of course, the following factors are also important:

duration and length of detachment
extent of damage
place of detachment
patient's age
presence and degree of myopia, with worse results for diopters larger than -6

Several techniques are used for the treatment, for example laser treatment of a tear, hole, cryopexy or coagulation. The essence of surgery is to close the retinal rupture.

Basically, there are two approaches, external and internal.

External surgeries are plombage (scleral buckling) or cerclage (in case of multiple retinal holes). The principle is to buckle the white of the eye (sclera) inwards, which pushes the layers of the eye together, thus limiting separation.

It is based on the action of silicone material outside the eye, which exerts pressure on the sclera. In the case of multiple injuries, a scleral clip is applied, which surrounds the eye, up to the area designated by the penetration of light into the eye. The buckle acts pressure like a belt.

Minimally invasive methods are: laser photocoagulation where the surgeon cauterises (burns) a hole/crack through the pupil of the eye. This will leave some scarring and weld the retina to its substrate. Freezing, or cryopexy, is a technique using low temperatures and a probe that will also create a scar and attach the retina to the wall of the eye.

This prevents the retinal and sight from being damaged.

The internal approach is based on vitrectomy, i.e the removal of the vitreous and treatment of the retina. The space is then injected with silicone oil (or gas, pneumatic retinopexy) which replaces the vitreous function. The retina is pressed against the choroid.

The operation is followed by healing and convalescence lasting for several months.

Due to the form of the disease, it is sometimes necessary to repeat the procedure. In some cases, there is no recovery. Vision is corrected, but the final visual acuity may not be as good as it was before the disease.

It is stated that approximately 85% of cases are initially successful.
About 15% require a second procedure (or more).

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Bc. Lukáš Tóth

Healthcare worker

The secondary medical school in Nitra gave me the basis for my career in the field of health and diseases. Thanks to it, I worked for 2 years in the traumatology clinic and outpatient clinic at the Nitra Hospital. Since 2006 I was employed in the emergency medical service, where I stayed until 2017. I completed my bachelor's degree at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra in the field of emergency health care. The bachelor's degree allowed me to continue my mission as a paramedic. In the meantime, I got a job at the emergency line 155. I have been working in pre-hospital health care until today. I had an interest in people, health and even diseases in my childhood, which gave me the prerequisite to pursue this topic in adulthood. Studying and acquiring new information in practice provided me with a great basis for writing professional texts, in the form of articles that can be understood by ordinary people. Thus, my interest in the Health Portal has a solid foundation in years of practice and personal interest. Similarly, I am also interested in healthy eating, nutrition and overall healthy lifestyle. I fill my free time with family and sports.

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