How successful is retinal detachment surgery?
Consultant Ophthalmologist,
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,
New Delhi
Q: I was suffering from eye disease in both the eyes and had undergone an eye surgery in Shankar Nethralaya, Chennai 6 years back. Doctor reported that my left eyes retina was detaching and lot of holes were there and he did a laser operation in both eyes and filled the holes. At present my left eye sight is almost as before the operation (i.e. very low sight) and there is no change in the sight after operation. In fact eye sight has been increased to 2 units in both the eyes. At present sight in right eye is -10 and in left eye is -12. Doctor has told me before operation that he can guarantee only 70% success of operation as it is an old case. But I never found any change in my sight after operation. My query is that is there any special operation / hospital available in India to undergo a retina attachment / laser operation? What is the success percentages? Can my power be reduced to zero?
A:The aim of retinal detachment surgery is to reattach the retina, it is not to reduce the power of your glasses, the vision is dependant on the health of the retina which decreases after retinal detachment depending on the duration the retina was detached, the vision after surgery rarely comes to the original vision, as far your desire to get a surgery to get your glasses removed, it not advisable in eyes which have had retinal detachment.