Can surgery still be performed for retinal detachment?

Nov 18, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Wang Lei

Introduction

Whether retinal detachment can be treated surgically depends on the urgency of the condition and the patient's overall health. Most patients can receive surgical treatment if they seek medical attention promptly; however, surgery may not be suitable for a minority of patients whose condition has been delayed until loss of light perception or who are in very poor health and unable to tolerate surgery. High-risk individuals, such as those with high myopia or a history of eye trauma, should have regular fundus examinations. After surgery, patients should avoid strenuous exercise, bending forward, or activities involving lowering the head to prevent recurrent retinal detachment.

Whether surgery can be performed for retinal detachment depends on the urgency of the condition and the patient's overall health. Most patients can undergo surgical treatment if they seek medical care promptly; however, a small number may become unsuitable candidates due to delayed treatment leading to complete loss of light perception or extremely poor physical condition that cannot tolerate surgery. A detailed analysis is as follows:

Retinal detachment is an ophthalmic emergency. If diagnosed early and treated promptly, with minimal damage to ocular tissues, most cases are operable. Common surgical procedures include scleral buckling and vitrectomy, which aim to seal retinal breaks and reposition the retina. These interventions can effectively preserve vision, with high success rates when performed timely. With proper postoperative care, partial visual function can be restored.

If treatment is significantly delayed, prolonged ischemia and necrosis of the retina may result in total loss of light perception, making visual recovery impossible even through surgery. Additionally, patients with severe underlying conditions such as heart, liver, or kidney disease, or those with coagulation disorders, may not tolerate the trauma of surgery. Performing surgery under these circumstances could lead to serious complications. In such cases, stabilizing the primary illness takes priority before reassessing the feasibility of surgery.

High-risk individuals, including those with high myopia or a history of eye trauma, should have regular fundus examinations. After surgery, avoid strenuous exercise, bending over, or activities involving head-down positions to prevent recurrent retinal detachment. Maintain good eye hygiene to prevent infection, follow a regular sleep schedule, avoid excessive eye strain, and control blood pressure and glucose levels to promote optimal eye recovery.

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Is retinal detachment considered a minor injury?

In general, whether retinal detachment constitutes a minor injury depends on the extent, scope, and impact on vision caused by the detachment. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor to prevent external trauma to the eye. Control the duration of reading and screen time to prevent eye strain. Maintain emotional stability to avoid blood pressure fluctuations that could affect eye recovery.

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Can retinal detachment be treated?

In general, whether retinal detachment can be cured depends on a comprehensive assessment of the type of detachment, severity of the condition, and timing of treatment. It is worth noting that treatment outcomes are also influenced by individual differences and postoperative care. Therefore, once symptoms of retinal detachment occur, such as flashes of light or visual field loss,

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Can retinal detachment caused by trauma be cured?

Whether retinal detachment caused by trauma can be cured depends on the timeliness of treatment. With proper treatment shortly after injury, most cases can have the condition controlled; however, if treatment is delayed, the difficulty of achieving a cure increases significantly. Daily attention should be paid to eye protection to avoid further external impact to the eyes. After surgery, strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor should be avoided in the short term, head movements should remain stable, and pressure on the eyes should be minimized.

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Can a fundoscopic examination detect retinal detachment?

If conventional methods such as dilated fundus examination and ophthalmoscopy are used, retinal detachment involving a clearly defined area can be clearly observed in terms of the location, extent, and whether it is accompanied by complications such as retinal breaks or hemorrhage. This allows for rapid and definitive diagnosis, providing a basis for formulating subsequent treatment plans. Such cases are relatively common in clinical examinations.