What types of reattachment procedures could be offered?
Pneumatic retinopexy uses an intraocular injection of expandable gases followed by application of cryotherapy in order to close a preexisting retinal tear or hole located in one of the upper retinal quadrants. This surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis and requires careful positioning of a patient’s head in the first postoperative days. Scleral buckle surgery uses a flexible band to pull the retina to the back wall of the eye; the doctor often drains off the fluid that is trapped under the retina. The buckle is usually a piece of silicone sponge or solid silicone. Often, scleral buckle surgery can be performed with local anaesthetic and on an outpatient basis. This procedure has been used successfully for more than 40 years. Vitrectomy is a slightly newer procedure that involves removing the vitreous gel and replacing it with a gas bubble, which the body’s fluids will gradually replace. It is most commonly used for traction retinal detachments, but is also used for rhegmatoge
