Discover how you can give your eyes the best chance with this sight-saving treatment
A detached retina can occur at any time. The sooner you have retinal detachment surgery, the more likely it is we’ll be able to save your sight.
For that reason, you should be aware of the signs of retinal detachment, such as:
- Suddenly occurring floaters or flashes in your field of vision
- A sudden loss of sight or a gap in your vision
If you’ve experienced any of those symptoms, you should make an appointment with one of our eye specialists straight away.
Treatment for retinal tears
We can treat retinal tears by ‘welding’ the tear with a laser—this prevents enlargement of the tear and reduces the chance of retinal detachment.
It’s a simple procedure that causes little or no discomfort, and you’ll be free to go home almost straight away.
Retinal detachment surgery
A detached retina causes a sudden loss of part or all of your vision in the affected eye. It is caused by the retina (the focusing surface at the back of your eye) coming away from the eye’s back wall. Retinal detachment surgery is required in almost all cases and should be carried out as soon as possible, although some cases are more urgent than others.
Eye Institute surgeons are available at short notice, and often outside normal working hours. So when you need retinal detachment surgery fast, make sure Eye Institute is your first call.
Advantages
- Patients experience recovery of some or all peripheral vision. This depends on the severity of the detachment and the time between the detachment and surgery.
- Stops progressive vision loss from the detachment worsening
Disadvantages
- Healing time – vision will be very restricted after surgery, but this improves.
- Invasive surgery.
- Cataract progresses more quickly after surgery.
Risks include:
- Vitreous haemorrhage
- Vision loss
- Infection
Retinal detachment operations
Every detached retina is different, and specialists will recommend the best operation for you.
In most detached retina operations, your surgeon will recommend a vitrectomy. During this procedure, we use a laser to seal the hole in the retina. We insert a bubble of gas into the eye to prevent liquid from getting behind the retina while it reattaches.
Occasionally, your surgeon will use a ‘scleral buckle’, either instead of, or as well as a vitrectomy. This involves using a small piece of silicone to push the retina flat from outside without an internal operation.
After your retinal detachment surgery
Once we have successfully reattached your retina, your vision is likely to improve. However, if the centre of the retina has become detached, vision may never return fully. The longer the retina remains detached, the worse the final visual result after surgery is likely to be. Therefore, it’s essential to seek help as quickly as possible if you suspect you have a torn or detached retina.
With two of Eye Institute’s experienced retinal surgeons – Dr Peter Hadden and Dr William Cunningham – available at short notice for immediate retinal detachment surgery, Eye Institute could give you a high chance of regaining your vision after a retinal tear or detachment.
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Our industry-leading experts are here to guide you every step of the way
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
Dr Dean is a consultant ophthalmologist. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, corneal surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care.
Dr Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
LEARN MORE
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
LEARN MORE
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
LEARN MORE
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
LEARN MORE
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Dean is a consultant ophthalmologist. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, corneal surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
LEARN MORE
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
LEARN MORE
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
LEARN MORE
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care
LEARN MORE
Dr. Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
LEARN MORE
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about treating retinal eye conditions from authoritative sources.
After some types of retinal surgery, you will need to keep your head in a face-down position. This is because a gas bubble has been put in your eye. Recovering with your head down allows the bubble to float into the correct position. The bubble holds the retina in place to heal correctly.
Your doctor will tell you how long you need to stay face down. It could be anywhere from a few days to a week or more. Over time, your eye fills with its own fluid, and the gas bubble disappears.
If you have a detached retina, you’ll likely need surgery right away to raise the odds of saving your sight in that eye. Your eye surgeon will decide which procedure for retinal detachment is right for you.
Retinal detachment repair is a surgery that is used to restore circulation to the retina and preserve vision. There are several types of surgery to repair a detached retina. A simple tear in the retina can be treated with freezing, called cryotherapy, or a laser procedure. Different types of retinal detachment require different kinds of surgery and different levels of anesthesia. The type of procedure your doctor performs will depend on the severity of retinal detachment.
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