A Retinal Detachment is a sight-threatening visual event that affects the back of your eye, responsible for about 10–15 per 100,000 cases yearly in the UK. The condition requires immediate treatment with laser or surgery. At Clinica London, we explained all details about the condition, including symptoms, causes and treatments. However, there are 10 popular sayings about Retinal Detachment that are actually false, and we aim to demystify them.
1. Retinal detachment develops only after accidents (False): Retinal detachment may develop in any healthy person. It is common in accidents, either blunt or penetrating trauma.
2. Retinal detachment is painful (False): Retinal detachment is usually painless.
3. Retinal detachment will not develop in the other eye (False): The likelihood of retinal detachment affecting the other eye is at least 10%.
4. The progression of retinal detachment is slow (False): Retinal detachment is most commonly a rapidly progressive emergency condition. Certain types of detachment can be slow, but they are rarer.
5. Retinal detachment is not recurrent (False): Retinal detachment involves a high likelihood of recurrence. Several lasers or vitreo-retinal surgeries may be needed for recurrent tears or detachments.
6. After retinal detachment surgery, my vision will rapidly improve (False): Your vision will not always improve after surgery. Vision improvement is an extremely slow process. If the macula of the eye has been detached, the vision may not regain its full original vision. Hence the importance of picking up the detached retina before the macula is “off”.
7. Every patient undergoes the same type of retinal detachment surgery (False): Retinal detachment surgeries are vastly varied. Different techniques may be performed on every patient.
8. Only a few postoperative follow-up examinations will be sufficient after retinal surgery (False): An ophthalmologist will follow up the eye on which he/she performed a retinal detachment operation for years, and usually repeat surgery will be required.
9. The silicone oil inserted in the eye will not be removed (False): If you have had vitreo-retinal surgery and silicone oil has been placed, most of the silicone oil inserted in the eye will be removed. Your ophthalmologist will decide on the timing of the removal which will require another surgery.
10. The patient may return back to their home immediately after the surgery (False): You should wait for your ophthalmologist’s approval before taking any form of transport home.
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