If you have a detached retina or certain diseases that affect the back of the eye, your eye doctor might suggest getting retinal surgery. While eye surgery may seem intimidating, your ophthalmologist will know how to make the procedure quick and easy. At Meridian Ophthalmic Associates in Meridian, we want your eyes to be as healthy as possible. We provide a variety of eye care procedures to maintain and improve eye health for our patients, including retinal surgery.
What Is Retinal Surgery Used For?
Retinal surgery is usually performed to reattach the retina and put it back into place. Your retina is crucial to your vision, so it needs to be placed correctly. An injury or eye disease could cause it to become misaligned. In severe cases, you may need emergency eye surgery, but it is usually not required.
What to Expect
In most cases, your retinal surgery will be done in the ophthalmologist’s office. You will be awake during the procedure, but given medicine to numb your eye, as well as to keep you relaxed. The eye doctor will insert a small gas bubble into your eye that will push the retina back into place. Then we will seal the hole with a laser. The gas bubble will dissolve after a little while as the retina heals.
In more extreme cases, you might need to have surgery done in a hospital. In this case, you will either be sedated or put under general anesthesia. There are two potential methods used in this scenario. The first involves putting an indent in the back of the eyeball to seal the hole left by the retinal tear. The other involves a small device that goes into the eyeball and moves the retina back into place.
Recovery
Recovery after retinal surgery does not require an overnight hospital stay. If you have a gas bubble, you may be required to lie prone or on your side for several days to keep the retina in place as it heals. You can expect some pain and blurriness in your eye, which may also be tender and swollen for a while.
Contact Meridian Ophthalmic Associates in Meridian, MS
If your eye doctor suggests retinal surgery, you should know what to expect. At Meridian Ophthalmic Associations, we know how to take care of your eyes. Whether you need emergency eye care or a standard procedure, we will provide the quality care that you need to maintain or improve your eye health. Call our team today at (601) 483-2616or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.
