Retinal Detachment Treatment in Long Beach, CA
Retinal detachment is a serious ocular emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. At Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA, board-certified ophthalmologist Darren Knight, MD, and his team offer several proven surgical treatments for retinal detachment, including scleral buckle, pneumatic retinopexy, and vitrectomy. If you are experiencing sudden visual changes, call (562) 534-1777 immediately or book your appointment online.
What Is a Retinal Detachment?
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina — the thin, light-sensitive layer of nerve tissue lining the back of the eye — separates from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the supportive tissues that supply it with oxygen and nutrients. When the retina detaches, retinal cells are deprived of their blood supply and begin to deteriorate rapidly. Without prompt treatment, a retinal detachment can result in significant and permanent vision loss, including complete blindness in the affected eye.
There are three main types of retinal detachment. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is the most common type and occurs when a tear or hole in the retina allows fluid from the vitreous to seep beneath the retinal surface and cause it to lift away. Tractional retinal detachment occurs when scar tissue on the retinal surface — often related to diabetic retinopathy — pulls the retina away from the underlying tissue without a tear. Exudative retinal detachment is caused by fluid accumulating beneath the retina due to inflammation, injury, or retinal vascular disease, without a tear or hole being present. If you experience any sudden change in your vision, contact Apex Retina Institute at (562) 534-1777 right away — time is critical when it comes to retinal detachment.
What Are the Risk Factors for Retinal Detachment?
While retinal detachment can occur in anyone, certain factors are known to significantly increase a person’s risk. Severe myopia (nearsightedness) is one of the most significant risk factors, as the elongated shape of a highly myopic eye places greater mechanical stress on the peripheral retina and makes retinal thinning and tears more likely. A family history of retinal detachment also raises a person’s risk, as does a history of retinal detachment in the fellow eye. Previous intraocular surgery — including cataract surgery — can increase the likelihood of retinal changes that may lead to detachment over time. Eye trauma, retinal thinning or lattice degeneration, and conditions associated with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) are additional risk factors. Patients with diabetic retinopathy are also at elevated risk due to the tractional forces that proliferative fibrovascular tissue can exert on the retina. If any of these risk factors apply to you, regular monitoring at Apex Retina Institute is strongly recommended.
What Are the Symptoms of Retinal Detachment?
Retinal detachment is typically painless, which is one of the reasons it can be easy to underestimate its severity. However, it produces a distinct set of visual symptoms that should never be ignored. Warning signs include a sudden dramatic increase in floaters, new flashes of light in your peripheral vision, a dark shadow or curtain spreading from the edge of your vision toward the center, and a darkening or loss of peripheral (side) vision. If the detachment reaches the macula, central vision may be affected as well, which can significantly worsen the visual prognosis. Any of these symptoms — particularly if they appear suddenly — should be treated as a medical emergency. Contact Apex Retina Institute at (562) 534-1777 immediately or go to an emergency eye care facility without delay.
How Is Retinal Detachment Diagnosed?
At Apex Retina Institute, Dr. Knight performs a thorough and urgent evaluation when retinal detachment is suspected. Your visit will begin with a review of your medical and ocular history and a detailed discussion of your symptoms, including when they began and how quickly they developed. Dr. Knight will then perform a comprehensive dilated eye examination, using specialized lenses to carefully inspect the peripheral retina, vitreous, and macula for signs of tears, holes, or detachment.
To gain a more complete picture of the retinal anatomy, Dr. Knight may also order optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, which provides high-resolution cross-sectional views of the retina and macula, and ocular ultrasound (B-scan), which is particularly valuable when the view of the retina is obscured by blood or media opacity. Together, these diagnostic tools allow Dr. Knight to accurately characterize the type, location, and extent of the detachment and develop the most appropriate surgical treatment plan as quickly as possible.
How Are Retinal Detachments Treated?
Retinal detachment almost always requires surgical repair to reattach the retina and restore or preserve vision. At Apex Retina Institute, Dr. Knight offers several evidence-based surgical approaches, and the right option for each patient depends on the type, size, and location of the detachment, the presence of any associated retinal tears, and the overall condition of the eye.
Scleral Buckle — Scleral buckling is a time-tested surgical procedure in which a flexible band or sponge made of medical-grade silicone is sutured to the outside of the eye — the sclera — to gently indent the wall of the eye inward. This indentation relieves the traction pulling the retina away from the underlying tissue and brings the retinal tear into contact with the RPE, allowing the retina to reattach. The buckle remains in place permanently and does not interfere with vision. Scleral buckling is particularly well suited for younger patients and certain types of rhegmatogenous detachments.
Pneumatic Retinopexy — Pneumatic retinopexy is a minimally invasive in-office procedure in which Dr. Knight injects a small gas bubble into the vitreous cavity of the eye. The bubble expands and floats to the area of the retinal tear, applying gentle pressure that closes the tear and allows the subretinal fluid to reabsorb so the retina can reattach. Patients are required to maintain a specific head position for several days following the procedure to keep the bubble in contact with the tear. Pneumatic retinopexy is most effective for detachments caused by a single tear located in the upper portion of the retina.
Vitrectomy — Vitrectomy is the most commonly performed surgery for complex retinal detachments and involves the removal of the vitreous gel from the eye using microsurgical instruments. Once the vitreous is removed, Dr. Knight can directly address any retinal tears, remove scar tissue contributing to traction, and drain the fluid beneath the detached retina. The vitreous cavity is then filled with sterile air, a gas bubble, or in some cases a silicone oil tamponade, which holds the retina in its correct position while it heals. Gas bubbles are gradually reabsorbed by the body over weeks, while silicone oil may require a second procedure for removal at a later date. To learn more about retinal detachment treatment at Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA, call (562) 534-1777 or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retinal Detachment
Is retinal detachment a medical emergency?
Yes — retinal detachment is a true ocular emergency. Once the retina separates from its underlying blood supply, retinal cells begin to deteriorate quickly, and the longer treatment is delayed, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss. If the macula becomes involved, the prognosis for central vision is significantly worse. If you experience a sudden shower of floaters, new flashes of light, or a shadow spreading across your vision, contact Apex Retina Institute at (562) 534-1777 immediately or seek emergency eye care without delay.
Can retinal detachment be treated without surgery?
In most cases, retinal detachment requires surgical repair. However, a retinal tear that has not yet progressed to a full detachment can sometimes be treated with laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy to seal the tear and prevent it from developing into a detachment. This is one of the key reasons why prompt evaluation at the first sign of floaters or flashes is so important — catching a retinal tear early may allow for a less invasive intervention. Dr. Knight will determine the most appropriate treatment based on the findings of your examination.
What is the success rate of retinal detachment surgery?
The success rate for retinal detachment surgery is generally high when treatment is performed promptly by an experienced retinal surgeon. A single surgical procedure successfully reattaches the retina in the majority of cases, though some patients require more than one procedure depending on the complexity of the detachment. Visual outcomes depend on several factors, including whether the macula was involved at the time of surgery, the duration of the detachment prior to treatment, and the type of repair performed. Dr. Knight will provide a thorough assessment of your individual prognosis before proceeding.
How long is recovery after retinal detachment surgery?
Recovery after retinal detachment surgery varies depending on the type of procedure performed. Patients who undergo pneumatic retinopexy will need to maintain a specific head position for several days following the injection. After vitrectomy or scleral buckle, most patients can resume light daily activities within a few days, though vision recovery continues gradually over weeks to months. If a gas bubble was used, patients cannot fly or travel to high altitudes until the gas has fully reabsorbed. Dr. Knight will provide detailed post-operative instructions and closely monitor your recovery through scheduled follow-up visits at Apex Retina Institute.
Can retinal detachment recur after surgery?
Yes, in some cases a retinal detachment can recur following surgical repair, particularly in eyes with complex detachments, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), or multiple retinal tears. This is why ongoing follow-up care at Apex Retina Institute is so important after surgery. Dr. Knight monitors your retina closely at each post-operative visit using dilated examination and OCT imaging to detect any early signs of redetachment and intervene promptly if needed.
Are floaters and flashes always a sign of retinal detachment?
Not always — floaters and flashes are common symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which is a normal age-related change that does not always lead to retinal detachment. However, because PVD can sometimes cause a retinal tear that progresses to a detachment, any new or sudden onset of floaters or flashes should be evaluated by Dr. Knight at Apex Retina Institute as soon as possible. A prompt dilated eye exam is the only reliable way to determine whether a retinal tear or detachment is present.
How do I schedule a retinal detachment evaluation at Apex Retina Institute?
If you are experiencing symptoms of retinal detachment, call Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA at (562) 534-1777 immediately — do not wait for an online appointment. For non-urgent consultations or follow-up care, you can also request an appointment online. New patients are welcome — visit our new patients page to learn what to expect, and our insurances page to verify your coverage before your visit.