What Is Scleral Buckling?

A scleral buckle is one of the surgical procedures used to treat a detached retina. The retinal detachment treatment procedure sometimes involves placing a semi-hardIf you have sudden vision pro silicone support around the outside of your eye. The buckle seals the retina to its proper position against the inside back wall of your eye. The three types of eye buckle include:

• Encircling
• Radial
• Segmental

The retina is a sensory membrane at the back of your eye. Through its light-sensitive photoreceptor cells — called rods and cones — the retina receives and organizes visual information. Any damage to the retina, such as detachment, causes vision problems and requires immediate attention by a top ophthalmologist. Your eye doctor may leave the buckle in place for six months to 10 years, depending on the support your retina needs.

The scleral buckling procedure protects your vision by treating a detached retina. At Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (VRMNY), the talented retina specialists and ophthalmologists use this and other eye surgical or in-office, outpatient procedures to address eye issues. At their state-of-the-art facilities in Manhattan, Westchester and Brooklyn, the top eye doctors use the latest medical equipment, such as diagnostic imaging, to determine the cause of your vision problems and treat it.

What Is a Retinal Detachment?

A detached retina is an eye disorder that causes the retina in the back of your eye to pull away from its supporting tissues. This is an eye emergency that requires urgent attention to prevent permanent damage to your eye. Retinal detachment surgery is one of the more advanced procedures used to treat this serious eye condition. A detached retina can develop because of a serious eye injury, a retina tear, diabetes or eye inflammation. Symptoms of retinal detachment include:

• Seeing flashes of light
• Noticing a sudden increase in floaters, such as dark flecks or squiggly lines, drifting across your field of vision
• Experiencing a darkening sensation at the periphery of your vision
• Seeing a curtain-like shadow or darkened part that covers another part of your vision

If you notice any of these symptoms, consult an eye specialist at VRMNY for a diagnosis. These NYC eye doctors have years of experience in eye treatment research. In fact, they publish extensively on the subject. Besides scleral buckle eye surgery, the eye doctors perform other advanced eye procedures, including:

• Laser surgery
• Vitrectomy
• Cornea transplant
• LASIK eye surgery
• Glaucoma surgery

Who’s a Candidate for Scleral Buckle Surgery?

Scleral buckle surgery is a complementary procedure for various types of retinal detachment repairs. You may be a good candidate for this eye surgery if you:

• Receive a diagnosis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
• Have repeated retinal detachments
• Are a child with a type of detached retina called a posterior hyaloid
• Have a detached retina caused by dialysis, but without a retinal tear
• Have multiple retinal tears, causing a complex detachment
• Suffered a failed attempt to repair rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, causing complications

Risk factors for retinal detachment — such as diabetes, advanced age and a previous cataract surgery — may make scleral buckle surgery necessary. Your eye doctor at VRMNY has access to advanced medical equipment for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, including a scleral buckle when needed.

How Is Scleral Buckle Surgery Performed?

The scleral buckling procedure takes one to two hours. Only an experienced, qualified retina specialist can perform this advanced procedure. The main steps in retinal detachment surgery include:

1. Consultation. Your ophthalmologist reviews your medical history and performs an examination. You may need diagnostic imaging to confirm a diagnosis of a detached retina. From the diagnosis, your doctor develops an individualized treatment plan. You discuss the repair procedure, including the scleral buckle surgery.
2. Anesthesia. To reduce any discomfort or anxiety, you may be put under general anesthesia.
3. Preparation. Before the surgery, your eye surgeon may patch both your eyes. Right before the surgery, the doctor uses special eye drops to dilate your pupils.
4. The surgery. Scleral buckle surgery starts by peeling the conjunctiva to expose the white part of the eye called the sclera. Your doctor secures a buckle to the white of the eye, behind the eyelids and under the eye muscles.
5. Additional treatments. During the procedure, your doctor may also perform scleral buckle cryotherapy or use laser technology to seal a retinal tear. To drain any fluid under the detached retina, your doctor uses a scleral injection of a gas bubble. Another option is to drain subretinal fluid from outside of the eye.
6. Post-surgical care. After the surgery, your doctor prescribes antibiotic eye drops to prevent an eye infection. Numbing medication and an eye patch are other post-surgery items provided.
7. You can expect your eye to heal within two to four weeks. To promote faster and more effective healing, avoid strenuous activities or exposure of the treated eye. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you notice complications, such as decreased vision, increasing pain, new floaters or discharge.

If you have sudden vision problems, including floaters in your eye, consult a top retina specialist at VRMNY. This is the most established eye care facility in New York City, with the equipment and personnel to perform the most complex eye surgeries. Contact an eye doctor today at VRMNY to protect your eyesight.