Types of detached retina surgery may include:

Pneumatic Retinopexy
Your doctor puts a gas bubble inside your eye. This pushes the retina into place so it can heal properly. Afterwards, you will need to keep your head in a very specific position as your doctor recommends for a few days. This keeps the bubble in the right place. As your eye heals, your body makes fluid that fills the eye. Over time, this fluid replaces the gas bubble.

Vitrectomy
Your doctor removes the vitreous pulling on the retina. The vitreous will be replaced with an air, gas, or oil bubble. The bubble pushes the retina into place so it can heal properly. If an oil bubble is used, your surgeon will remove it a few months later. With an air or gas bubble, you cannot fly in an airplane, travel to high altitudes or scuba dive. This is because altitude change causes the gas to expand, increasing eye pressure. See the page on vitrectomy for more information on this particular type of surgery.

Scleral Buckle
A band of rubber or soft plastic is sewn to the outside of your eyeball. It gently presses the eye inward. This helps the detached retina heal against the eye wall. You will not see the scleral buckle on the eye. It is usually left on the eye permanently.

What Are the Risks of Surgery for Detached Retina?
All surgery has risks of problems. But if you do not treat a detached retina, you could quickly and permanently lose your sight. Here are some of the risks of surgery for detached retina:

  • Eye infection
  • Bleeding in your eye
  • Increased pressure inside the eye, which can lead to glaucoma
  • Cataract, when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy
  • Need for a second surgery
  • Chance that the retina does not reattach properly
  • Chance that the retina detaches again

Your doctor will discuss these and other risks and how surgery can help you. Things to expect after surgery:

  • You might have some discomfort for a few days to weeks after surgery. You may be given pain medicine to help you feel better.
  • You need to rest and be less active after surgery for a few weeks. Your doctor will tell you when you can exercise, drive or do other things again.
  • You will need to wear an eye patch after surgery. Be sure to wear it as long as your doctor tells you to.
  • If a bubble was put in your eye, you will need to keep your head in one position for a certain length of time, such as 1–2 weeks. Your doctor will tell you what that specific head position is. It is very important to follow the directions so your eye heals.
  • You might see floaters and flashing lights for a few weeks after surgery. You may also notice the bubble in your eye.
  • Your sight should begin to improve about four to six weeks after surgery. It could take months after surgery for your vision to stop changing.
  • Also, your retina may still be healing for a year or more after surgery. How much your vision improves depends on the damage the detachment caused to the cells of the retina.