Scleral buckle surgery is a significant and safe procedure to correct retinal detachment and restore eyesight. To the uninitiated, sclera refers to the white coating of the eye, i.e., the outer layer that extends from the cornea to the optic nerve in the back of the eye. The sclera gives the eyeballs its white colour and protects the eyes from damage and injuries. Read on to learn more about scleral buckle surgery, including the procedure, surgery cost, risks, success rate, and recovery time.
Why Is Scleral Buckle Surgery Performed?
The initial scleral buckling (SB) surgery was performed in 1949 by Ernst Custodis by using a polyviol exoplant and without draining the subretinal fluid. Over the years, several modifications have been made, and silicone sponges have been introduced instead of polyvinyl exoplanets. As discussed earlier, Scleral buckle surgery or scleral buckling is performed to repair retinal detachment under local or general anaesthesia. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye that processes light. In this condition, the retina pulls away from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer of blood vessels that supply oxygen and necessary nutrients to the eye. If left untreated, this severe condition could cause permanent vision loss.
Symptoms of Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachments can be caused due to injury, age, previous history or history of family members. Symptoms of retinal detachment can include:
- seeing floaters such as tiny spots or lines over the sight all of a sudden,
- light flashes,
- blurred vision or
- noticing shadows or curtain-like images all over the vision area.
Inferior retinal detachments are silent, show no sound symptoms, and go unnoticed until they reach the posterior pole. Retinal detachment should be treated immediately upon diagnosis, or it will lead to complete vision loss.
Scleral Buckle Surgery Procedure
Before the surgery, the surgeon will give a sedative through the IV and inject local or general anaesthesia to make you motionless. The surgeon will clean the eye area and use eye drops to dilate the pupils, which will be used to get a clear view of the back of the eye. The surgery involves bringing the two retina layers and removing the fluid under the retina.
During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the conjunctiva and marks the tear that has caused the hole in the retina. They then perform cryotherapy to promote adhesion of the detached retina to the choroid. The surgeon then sews a scleral band on the sclera in the area where the tear was marked. The buckling element is left in the eye forever. As the sutures tighten, the sclera folds inwards or buckles in, bringing it closer to the retina. As earlier said, they may also drain the fluid between the retina and choroid or inject air into the eyeball to prevent fluid from passing through the eyes and promote quicker attachment. However, if only a tiny amount of fluid is present, the surgeon may not drain it as the layer under the retina will absorb it. Once the surgery is done, the surgeon will ensure the retina is in place.
The entire scleral buckle surgery takes 1 to 2 hours but can be done as an outpatient procedure. The surgeon also applies an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. Patients can go home the same day, provided there are no other complications and they have someone to take them home. Calwin Hospitals is the best hospital in Nagercoil, providing excellent eye care services and treatments and frequently runs free eye camps to diagnose eye-related issues.
Scleral Buckle Surgery Aftercare
The doctor will provide detailed post-surgery eye care instructions. To prevent infection, it would be best if you continued the antibiotic eye drops. The eyes may appear sore but can be healed with over-the-counter medications. You must also go for a follow-up appointment and limit strenuous activities for a few days.
If you have swollen eyes, pain or discomfort in the eye, or gradually decreased eyesight after the procedure, contact your ophthalmologist immediately to seek help. If you are looking for an eye specialist in Nagercoil, contact Calwin Hospitals to learn about your eye health and treatment options.
Scleral Buckle Surgery Success Rate
Scleral buckle surgery is a fairly successful procedure with a success rate of over 80% to 90%. However, you must follow the doctor’s instructions and wear a patch over the eye until instructed.
Scleral Buckle Recovery Time
Recovery from scleral buckle surgery depends on following the doctor’s instructions. Usually, the recovery time after the surgery takes about two to four weeks, depending on your age and type of incision. The recovery phase includes protecting the eyes while bathing or showering to prevent soap from entering them, avoiding swimming or using contact lenses to prevent unclean water from entering the eyes, avoiding high-altitude travel, sleeping while lying on the back, etc.
It would be best to place an ice pack over the eye for 10 to 20 minutes for the first few days to reduce swelling. Sometimes, the doctor may suggest applying the ice pack every 2 to 3 hours for the first three days. As the eyes begin to heal, you can resume normal activities, taking care not to strain the eye. You can return to work in over two weeks, depending on the type of work you do. Getting the surgery performed in a multispeciality hospital with advanced equipment and facilities speeds up the recovery period. Calwin Hospitals, among the premier eye hospitals in Nagercoil, provides unparalleled eye care and reliable treatment options.
Scleral Buckle Surgery Risks
Scleral buckling has been performed for more than 70 years, but it is now less widely performed due to the technical advancements in Vitrectomy and its better ergonomics. Nevertheless, scleral buckling is exceptionally helpful in certain situations. Here are certain risk factors associated with scleral buckling.
- Recurrence of another retinal tear or detachment due to overlooked breaks, misplaced buckles, or insufficient retinopexy.
- Bleeding in the eye
- Formation of intraocular pressure
- Seeing a double vision
- Blurred vision
- Infection in the incision site
- Formation of cataracts
- Nearsightedness
- Buckle intrusion can cause hypotony, vitreous haemorrhage, and endophthalmitis.
- Pain and discomfort in the area
Scleral Buckle Surgery Cost in Nagercoil
The cost of scleral buckle surgery depends upon the hospital, the type of procedure, the admission cost, the age and medical condition of the patient, and the post-surgical procedures. Scleral buckle surgery costs in Nagercoil range from Rs 42,000 to Rs 70,000.
If you have questions about scleral buckling or the various retinal detachment treatment options, consult a knowledgeable ophthalmologist.
Finding A Scleral Buckle Surgeon In Nagercoil
Scleral buckle surgery is an extraocular procedure, the preferred choice of surgery to treat simple retinal detachment. A piece of silicone material is sutured to the sclera of the eye in a way that the buckle won’t block your vision. If you want a scleral buckle surgeon in Nagercoil, contact Calwin Hospitals, the number one multispecialty hospital in Nagercoil. We have the finest and most experienced doctors for scleral buckle surgery in Nagercoil, providing unparalleled eye care. We offer a range of advanced diagnostic and treatment options and promise exceptional care and transparent services.