Retinal Detachment Surgery in Jalandhar

A retinal detachment is when the retina — the thin “film” at the back of the eye — peels away from the wall of the eye. Once it lifts off, it stops working, and that part of your vision goes dark. Without surgery the eye can lose sight permanently. With timely surgery, most retinas can be re-attached and useful vision saved.

At Drishti Eye Care & Retina Centre in Lambra, Jalandhar, Dr Nalini Saxena performs stitchless vitreo-retinal surgery for retinal detachment. She trained in retinal surgery during her fellowship at Venu Eye Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, and then for two months in complex vitreo-retinal surgery in Germany.

What is a retinal detachment?

The inside of the eye is filled with a clear jelly called the vitreous. With age, the jelly shrinks and separates from the retina. Usually this is harmless. But sometimes it tears a small hole in the retina as it pulls away. Fluid then passes through the hole and gets under the retina, lifting it off like wallpaper peeling off a damp wall. This is the most common type of detachment.

Detachment can also happen when scar tissue pulls the retina off, which is seen in advanced diabetic retinopathy, or when fluid collects under the retina because of swelling or inflammation.

You are at higher risk if you are very short-sighted (a high minus number), have had cataract surgery, have had an eye injury, have had a detachment in the other eye, or have a family history of detachment.

Symptoms of retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is painless. The eye looks normal. The warning signs are all in what you see:

• A sudden shower of new floaters — many black dots, threads or a cobweb drifting in your vision
• Flashes of light, like lightning or camera flashes, usually at the side of your vision, even with the eyes closed
• A dark shadow or curtain coming in from the side, top or bottom of your vision
• Loss of central vision if the detachment reaches the macula, the centre of the retina

Floaters and flashes alone can mean a retinal tear before the retina detaches. A tear found early can often be sealed without major surgery.

When to see a doctor

If you have had a detachment in one eye, or you are very short-sighted, ask for a full retina examination even without symptoms. Weak areas can sometimes be treated before they cause a tear.

How Dr Nalini treats retinal detachment

Dr Nalini Saxena is a vitreo-retinal surgeon with an MS in Ophthalmology from Maulana Azad Medical College and a dedicated vitreo-retinal fellowship from Venu Eye Institute, New Delhi. She has passed the examination of the Royal College of Surgeons and has presented at international retina meetings including EURETINA.

Stitchless vitreo-retinal surgery (vitrectomy)

This is the main surgery for retinal detachment at Drishti Eye Care. Through openings smaller than a millimetre, Dr Nalini removes the jelly that is pulling on the retina, drains the fluid from under it, and flattens the retina back into place. The tear is sealed, and a bubble of gas or silicone oil is placed inside the eye to press the retina against the wall while it heals. Because the openings are so small, stitches are usually not needed.

Gas or oil?

A gas bubble is absorbed by the body on its own over two to eight weeks and is used for most simple detachments. Silicone oil does not absorb. It is used for complex or long-standing detachments and is removed in a second, smaller operation after some months.

Combined surgery

Many patients develop a cataract after retinal surgery, and some have one already. Because Dr Nalini is also an experienced cataract surgeon, the two surgeries can be combined when appropriate.

What to expect on the day

1. Examination. Your pupils are widened with drops and Dr Nalini maps the detachment and finds the tear. Surgery is planned as soon as possible, often within a day or two.
2. Fitness. Blood tests and a basic fitness check are done. Tell us about diabetes, blood pressure, heart problems, and blood-thinning medicines.
3. Surgery. Most patients have local anaesthesia — the eye is numbed with an injection around it, and you are awake but comfortable. The surgery can take one to two hours depending on complexity.
4. Going home. The eye is padded for the first day. You go home the same day or the next morning, with drops and instructions on how to position your head.

Recovery after retinal detachment surgery

Recovery is slower than after cataract surgery:

• Head positioning. If a bubble is in the eye, you may be asked to keep your head face-down or turned to one side for most of the day, for several days. This keeps the bubble pressing on the tear. It is tiring, but it is one of the most important parts of the treatment.
• Gas bubble. You will see a dark ball in your vision that slowly shrinks. Vision is poor until it is gone. Do not travel by air or go to high altitude while gas is in the eye — the bubble can expand and cause dangerous pressure.
• Drops and follow-up. Use the drops exactly as prescribed for several weeks and attend all follow-up visits.
• Activity. Avoid heavy lifting, bending, rubbing the eye and dust. Light walking is fine. Most people return to desk work in two to four weeks.
• Vision. Vision improves over weeks to months. How much it recovers depends mainly on how long the retina was detached and whether the centre was involved.

Cost of retinal detachment surgery in Jalandhar

The cost varies with the complexity of the case. Factors include:

• Type of detachment — a fresh, simple detachment needs less surgery than a long-standing one with scar tissue.
• Gas or silicone oil — oil adds the cost of a second procedure to remove it later.
• Combined cataract surgery — adds the cost of the lens implant.
• Investigations and follow-up — scans before surgery and several review visits afterwards.

You receive a written estimate before surgery. Ask our staff about insurance and government scheme paperwork.

Frequently asked questions