1. Freeze Tissue With Nitrous Oxide
This outpatient procedure, commonly known as cryopexy, involves stanching the retinal tear and generating scar tissue to impede further erosion of the retina from the vitreous.
2. Scleral Buckle Treatment
This surgery is extremely common in adults who present with the condition. Essentially, the ophthalmologist uses a band of silicon to literally buckle the retina into place and prevent it from tearing off. Although this is a relatively invasive procedure, ophthalmologists claim that it works quite well over the long term.
3. Halt Progression of Detachment by Using Photocoagulation
A hot laser can be beamed onto the edge of the retina to seal torn areas and thus prevent detachment. This procedure is most often performed under local anesthetic. While there are certainly risks involved, photocoagulation can be considered less invasive than other procedures, such as scleral buckle treatment.
4. Pneumatic Retinopexy to Treat Simple Tears in the Upper Part of the Retina
This outpatient surgery involves a multi-step process. First, the surgeon uses a cold substance, such as nitrous oxide, to freeze the retinal tear in place. Next, he or she injects fluid into the space between the cornea and the iris. Following this, the ophthalmologist injects a bubble of gas into the eyeball, which then expands over several days. The purpose of this complicated procedure is to drain fluid from the eye. After the fluid dissipates, the retina should naturally reattach to the vitreous.
The gas bubble used in the surgery presents patients with challenges during recovery. Obviously, you can't go scuba diving or travel on an airplane, as rapid changes in pressure could literally cause the eyeball to explode. Similarly, ophthalmologists advise their pneumatic retinopexy patients to avoid sleeping on their backs to prevent the air bubble from pushing up against the lens and causing damage.
