Retina surgery encompasses various procedures aimed at treating conditions affecting the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Here are some common types of retina surgery:
Vitrectomy: This procedure involves removing some or all of the vitreous gel that fills the center of the eye. It is often performed to treat conditions such as:
Retinal detachment: Vitrectomy helps repair detached or torn retina by removing vitreous gel and scar tissue, and sometimes placing a gas bubble to help reattach the retina.
Macular hole: Vitrectomy can be used to repair small holes or defects in the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision.
Epiretinal membrane: Vitrectomy can peel away scar tissue or membranes that form on the retina's surface, improving vision.
Scleral Buckling: This procedure involves placing a silicone band or sponge (buckle) around the outside of the eye to gently push the wall of the eye inward. Scleral buckling is commonly used to treat:
Retinal detachment: The buckle helps close breaks or tears in the retina and support its reattachment to the eye wall.
Retinal tears: By indenting the eye wall, scleral buckling can alleviate tension on the retina, preventing further tears or detachments.
Pneumatic Retinopexy: In this procedure, a gas bubble is injected into the vitreous cavity of the eye. The patient is then positioned so that the gas bubble floats to the area of the retina needing repair. Pneumatic retinopexy is typically used for:
Retinal detachment: The gas bubble helps push the retina back into place, allowing the retina to heal and reattach to the eye wall.
Laser Photocoagulation: This procedure uses a laser to seal or destroy abnormal blood vessels or to create small burns on the retina. Laser photocoagulation is commonly used to treat:
Diabetic retinopathy: Laser treatment can help seal leaking blood vessels or shrink abnormal blood vessels, reducing the risk of vision loss.
Retinal tears or holes: Laser therapy can seal retinal tears or create a barrier around holes to prevent retinal detachment.
Types of Anaesthesia:
Local Anesthesia: Most retina surgeries are performed under local anesthesia and IV Sedation. This involves numbing the eye and surrounding area with eye drops or a small injection around the eye. Local anesthesia blocks pain signals from the eye to the brain.
IV Sedation: For more complex or lengthy retina surgeries, IV sedation may be used in addition to local anesthesia. Conscious sedation involves administering medications through an IV line to induce a state of deep relaxation and drowsiness. While conscious, patients are generally able to respond to verbal cues and maintain their own airway, but they may not remember much of the procedure afterward.
Peribulbar Block: This involves injecting local anesthetic into the tissue around the eyeball but outside the muscles that move the eye. It provides effective anesthesia for most types of retina surgeries.
Sub-Tenon's Block: This technique involves placing a small needle under the membrane (tenon's capsule) that surrounds the eyeball. The anesthetic is injected into this space, providing localized anesthesia.