Retinal Detachment Treatments

Retinal Detachment Treatment

With top surgeons always on-call for urgent cases and dedicated operating rooms, we can get you the timely care you need. The type of treatment you receive depends on whether our team diagnoses a retinal tear or a detachment.

Retinal tears

We treat retinal tears with procedures that create a small and safe amount of scarring to block fluid from entering the retina and ensuring it is secure. These procedures include:

• Laser surgery (photocoagulation): The laser creates small, painless burns that form the scars.
• Freezing (cryopexy): A special probe uses cold energy to freeze the area and create the scars.

Retinal detachment

We offer several options for reattaching the retina:

• Surgery (vitrectomy): Our surgeon removes the vitreous gel that sits inside the eye and has caused the retina to detach. A dissolvable bubble is inserted to temporary hold the retina in place, then laser therapy or freezing seals the retina.
• Bubble (pneumatic retinopexy): We treat most retinal detachments with surgery, but retinoplexy offers a non-surgical alternative in appropriate cases. A dissolvable bubble holds the retina in place and laser therapy or freezing seals it.

Most eye care providers only offer the option of gas bubbles when reattaching the retina. But that means you cannot safely fly until the bubble is gone. We also offer silicone oil bubbles, which do not restrict your travel needs.

Learn more about Stanford's Byers Eye Institute, including our Eye Surgery Center.