What Is a Retinopexy?

Pneumatic retinopexy (PR) surgery is an advanced eye procedure to repair rhegmatogenous retinal detachments using an expanding gas bubble. The gas bubble floats over the detached retinal area and gently pushes it back into position. Retina laser surgery uses a thermal laser to repair retinal damage, including:

• Retinal holes
• Retina tears
• Retina breaks
• Retinal detachments

A retinal detachment is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Otherwise, this condition can lead to vision loss. An endolaser retinopexy is a common in-office procedure your ophthalmologist performs to prevent permanent damage to your retina.

The top eye doctors at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (VRMNY) diagnose a detached retina using the latest medical technology, including diagnostic imaging. After the diagnosis, your doctor chooses from a variety of treatments, including retinopexy or a surgical procedure such as:

• Vitrectomy
• Scleral buckle
• Membrane peel
• Silicone oil

What Is a Detached Retina?

The retina is a thin membrane that lines the back part of your eyeball. The layer comprises light-sensitive cells that interpret visual images. These cells receive information and send it to the brain in real time to enable you to see. The tiny photoreceptor cells known as cones and rods help you differentiate colors, light and dark. With a retinal detachment, the supply of nourishment to this critical part of your eye is cut off.

If the retina pulls away from the blood vessels at the back of your eye, it creates an emergency situation referred to as a retinal detachment. The main types of retinal detachment are rhegmatogenous, tractional and exudative. Each form of detachment develops because of a specific situation, but each causes the retina to move from its position. Symptoms of retinal detachment include:

• An increase in floaters in your vision
• Flashes of light in your vision
• Blurring of your vision
• The development of a dark shadow that moves across your vision
• A reduction in your peripheral vision

If you experience any of these symptoms, your retinal specialist discusses different detachment repair options, one of which is a pneumatic retinopexy procedure. To perform your surgery, your ophthalmologist uses an endolaser and an endoscopic probe. Refining the retinopexy procedure with a laser treatment and improved visualization delivers better results.

What Does Endolaser Retinopexy/Endoscopy Treat?

Eye specialists use the endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy procedure for improved retinal detachment repair and for a wide range of retinal complications. The advanced retina laser surgery:

• Enhances the posterior view for your surgeon in a vitrectomy procedure
• Addresses severe endophthalmitis, an inflammation from an eye infection
• Corrects proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), which is a complication of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
• Illuminates a fractured intraocular lens (IOL) haptic, a rare side effect of cataract surgery
• Removes intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) from your eyes
• Helps with the full removal of the anterior vitreous, which is fluid at the front of your eye, a useful procedure when your ophthalmologist is placing a drainage tube for glaucoma treatment
• Is used in treatments for eyes with anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy
• Assists in the endocyclophotocoagulation treatment for refractory glaucoma

During a regular eye checkup or eye treatment appointment, a top ophthalmologist diagnoses the conditions that require pneumatic retinopexy surgery. After assessing the damage to your retina, your eye doctor can opt for the advanced endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy, often combined with another procedure, to treat your retina issues.

What Are the Benefits of Endolaser Retinopexy/Endoscopy?

Endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy is an advanced form of retinopexy. During the procedure, your eye doctor uses an endolaser probe integrated into an endoscope fitted with a light source. The goal is to improve your doctor’s view inside your eye, which is a big problem when performing retinal detachment repair. The technique improves the outcome of retinal surgery. Some of the benefits of endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy include:

• It’s a minimally invasive eye procedure.
• It improves visualization by using an endoscopic probe with a video camera.
• It improves your eye surgeon’s efficiency when performing retinal detachment repair.
• It’s versatile enough to help repairs in a wide variety of retinal detachments and complications of vitreoretinal surgery.
• It leverages the power of endoscopy probing by combining it with laser retinopexy.

After reaching a diagnosis, your eye doctor uses state-of-the-art equipment at the VRMNY office nearest you to perform the retinopexy procedure, in combination with endolaser and an endoscopic probe. You’re always in the safest hands at this New York City-based eye practice.

How Is the Endolaser Retinopexy/Endoscopy Procedure Done?

The traditional retinopexy procedure forms a barrier that prevents fluid from entering through a retinal tear or hole. The endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy procedure is more advanced, as your eye doctor also uses an endolaser probe with an endoscope. The main steps in the retinopexy procedure include:

1. Doctor’s consultation. Your eye doctor assesses your eye, using advanced diagnostic imaging equipment to confirm a retinal tear, hole or detachment. Your eye doctor explains the diagnosis and advises on the benefits of endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy procedure.
2. When taking your medical history, the doctor asks if you’re on any medication that may affect the eye surgery. If so, the doctor advises you to stop taking it.
3. On the day of the surgery at the doctor’s office, you sit on a chair comfortably. You’re given a topical anesthetic on the surface of your eye, usually in the form of eye drops, to prevent any discomfort.
4. Laser retinopexy. Your eye doctor works with the endolaser probe integrated into an endoscope. The equipment improves visualization. Using laser technology, the doctor treats the retinal tear.
5. You may experience hazy vision after the surgery, along with some eye discomfort. Your doctor provides eye drops to ease the discomfort. You have to arrange a ride home because you can’t drive yourself.

Endolaser retinopexy/endoscopy requires specialized skills that the ophthalmologists at VRMNY possess. These retina specialists and surgeons are renowned medical researchers and innovators in eye treatments. Contact a top eye specialist at Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York today to protect or restore your vision.