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Recovery From Detached Retina Surgery

The retina is a thin layer of blood vessels and light-sensitive nerves at the rear of the eye. It sometimes peels away from the back of the eye, causing a retinal detachment and a resultant loss of vision. This condition usually can be repaired surgically; surgery may last between one and four hours depending on the surgical option you and your ophthalmologist have chosen. Recovery is a lengthy process.

  1. Release from the Hospital

    • Barring complications, you should be released from the hospital later on the day the surgery was performed or, at the latest, the following day, according to AuroraHealthCare.org. Your eye will be covered with a metal shield and bandage, which must remain in place for whatever length of time your doctor specifies. Most often, this eye covering will be removed by the doctor the day after surgery. In the days immediately following surgery, you may experience some pain, but it should be manageable with the pain medication your doctor has prescribed. If the medication is not doing its job, consult with your doctor immediately.

    Guidelines for Recovery

    • Once your eye patch has been removed, you must begin using the eye drops your doctor prescribed before surgery. You also must wear your eye patch each night for three weeks to protect your eye from possible damage while sleeping. In the first week after surgery, you should pamper yourself, according to Retina Specialists of Alabama. It's important not to strain your vision during this early recovery period, so keep your reading and TV watching to a minimum. It is not uncommon to experience tearing and clear mucosal secretion from the affected eye, but consult your doctor immediately if you experience a yellow, foul-smelling discharge from the eye.

    Gas Bubble

    • During your surgery, your surgeon may have introduced a gas bubble into the eye to serve as a splint during the early recovery period. This bubble, which will be absorbed and decrease in size over time, helps to hold the repaired retina in place until it has firmly reattached to the rear of the eye. To maximize the effect of the gas bubble, your ophthalmologist probably will instruct you to keep your head in a face-down position whenever possible. You must try to maintain that head position as much as you can, even while sleeping, bathing and eating. Until the bubble is fully absorbed, don't lie on your back. It's also important to avoid overexertion for at least a month.

    Improved Vision

    • You should notice a definite improvement in your vision within two weeks of the surgery, although complete recovery may take up to a year. Until your vision improves, it is probably best to avoid driving. If you have a sedentary job and your recovery has been relatively smooth, you probably can return to work within 10 to 14 days. If, however, your job requires heavy lifting or similar exertion, your doctor can advise you when it's safe to go back on the job.

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