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What Is a Scleral Buckle?

Scleral buckling is a surgical procedure to repair a retinal detachment. A retina becomes detached when it separates from the underlying tissue. As a result, the retina is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and this may result in permanent vision loss. A scleral buckle reattaches the retina and aids in healing.

  1. Description and Purpose

    • Typically, a scleral buckle is composed of silicon sponge or rubber or in rare cases metal. It is placed either around or on a part of the eyeball.The scleral buckle reduces the internal diameter of the eye placing pressure on the retina. In this way, the retina is forced to adhere back to its original position, facilitating healing of the retinal detachment.

    The Procedure

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, a scleral buckling procedure is composed of several steps, depending on the severity of the retinal detachment. First, the patient's pupils are dilated, and she is administered anesthesia. Next, the surgeon performs a vitrectomy if his view of the damage is obstructed by bleeding. Prior to implanting the buckle, cryopexy or laser photocoagulation is used to generate scar tissue. The formation of scar tissue prevents leakage and helps seal the detachment. A silicon buckle is then either placed around the entire circumference of the eye or in a section determined by the severity of the tear.

    Potential Complications

    • The University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center website points out that potential complications of the scleral buckle surgical procedure include bleeding, cataracts, double vision, glaucoma and vitreous hemorrhages.

    Recovery

    • Recovery from scleral buckling surgery may take several months. Generally, the surgery is successful; however, in some cases, a second surgery may be necessary. Additionally, long-term risks include vision loss and blindness.

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