Retinal detachments should be treated immediately in order to prevent permanent central vision loss. They typically occur when layers of retina separate and fluid leaks under it; to address it quickly treatment options include scleral buckling or vitrectomy surgery.

Dr Layton practices adult comprehensive ophthalmology at Greenslopes Private Hospital in Brisbane and holds both Rhodes Scholar and PhD from Oxford University degrees, specializing in diabetic retinopathy and macular disease. In addition, he has published multiple scientific papers as well as lectured internationally on his expertise.

Vitrectomy

Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat various eye conditions. The process entails extracting vitreous, which fills the middle cavity of the eyeball, so light can pass through it and reach the retina, an inner back wall layer sensitive to light that transmits visual messages directly from it to the brain via optic nerve. Sometimes, abnormalities in retina may result in serious vision loss – vitrectomy may provide the solution and even prevent permanent blindness for some patients.

Under general or local anesthesia, eye surgery is often performed as an outpatient procedure in an outpatient setting. During this procedure, a surgeon makes a small cut on the white part of the eye (sclera) before extracting vitreous fluid via drainage from an insertion point on the eyeball (vitreous fluid). This typically takes one or two hours. Substituting silicone oil, saline solution or air may replace this fluid; alternatively a doctor may insert a gas bubble to assist repair of retinal detachments or tears.

Floaters result from changes to the vitreous humor, an invisible gel-like substance found inside of each eye that helps maintain its shape and fill its interior. Over time, this substance may liquefy and cause collagen fibers to clump together causing shadowy formations which appear as “floaters”. Vitrectomy surgery can remove these floaters and improve visual clarity.

Vitrectomy surgery may also be performed to remove blood from the eye after vitreous hemorrhage, repair retinal detachments and clear away scar tissue opacities from vitreous fluid. Vitrectomy procedures may also be combined with other treatments such as scleral buckle or lensectomy for maximum efficiency.

Following your surgery, eyedrops may be prescribed to you to prevent infection, reduce inflammation and speed healing. It is essential that these eyedrops be used according to your ophthalmologist’s direction; certain activities that could increase eye pressure such as scuba diving, mountain climbing, heavy lifting and air travel must be avoided for a set period of time; smoking and alcohol consumption should also be limited for an optimal healing outcome.

Scleral Buckle Surgery

Scleral buckling surgery aims to stabilize retinal detachments by creating a band around them and holding the retina securely in place. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis in either a hospital or eye care center and usually lasts 1-3 hours, after taking medication to numb and relax you, before shining a light into your eye and using ultrasound waves to examine its back wall (the sclera). Your doctor may inject a gas bubble under your retina or drain fluid from beneath through small holes sclera holes if there is too much fluid buildup under there and cause retinal detachment.

Under scleral buckling surgery, small sutures are used to sew a silicone buckle onto the outside of your eye near where there is a retinal tear or hole, pushing your sclera toward detached retina and helping it rest against choroid layer of eye (choroid). A freezing probe or laser beam may then be used to seal off tears in retina and help stop fluid from seeping under it.

Retinal detachments are an eye emergency that, left untreated, could result in permanent vision loss. You should contact your physician as soon as you notice flashes or floaters in your vision or gradual loss, sudden vision loss or severe pain or reddening in either eye.

Scleral buckling may provide up to an 85%-90% success rate depending on its location and extent of retinal detachment, although close monitoring must take place post-scleral buckling to assess how it has helped your healing.

After your surgery, your eye may be sore for several weeks and require wearing an eye patch to protect it. In addition, eye drops may be prescribed in order to keep the eyes moist; your doctor should recommend which ones and how often. In cases involving retinal tears, however, your physician may advise against engaging in activities requiring visual coordination such as driving.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an advanced dermatology treatment using specific wavelengths of light to address skin cancer and precancer. PDT works by applying a cream with naturally-occurring porphyrin molecules to an affected area and when exposed to specific wavelengths of light these activated molecules release forms of oxygen which destroy cells nearby. PDT can also be effective in treating acne or other skin conditions.

Short Street Day Surgery uses PDT to effectively treat several different skin conditions, including actinic keratoses and Bowen’s disease – two precancerous conditions that could progress into invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – as well as superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

As well as killing cancer cells directly, PDT may also disrupt blood vessels that feed tumors with nutrients and may lead to their shrinkage or even their death from lack of nutrition. Furthermore, photosensitizers can trigger your immune system against them to attack and destroy them altogether.

PDT, though relatively new, is quickly evolving into an advanced therapy. New photosensitizers and light sources as well as improved application techniques have emerged; cancer registrars should familiarize themselves with PDT so they can code it appropriately on cancer abstracts.

Other forms of photodynamic therapy (PDT) are currently under study, such as extracorporeal photopheresis. This technique entails collecting a patient’s blood, treating it externally with photosensitizer, exposing it to light for treatment, then returning it back to them for return infusion. Extracorporeal photopheresis has already been approved by the FDA as a way to help alleviate symptoms in those living with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas that do not respond well to traditional therapies.

Eye Patches

Eye patches might conjure images of pirates and hidden treasure, but these soft cloth coverings can actually serve as powerful medical devices that serve multiple functions. Eye patches’ primary function is to obstruct vision in one eye – something which may provide several clinical and therapeutic advantages.

Treating Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

Eye patches can be used to effectively address amblyopia, or “lazy eye.” This condition occurs when one eye is weaker than the other; thus making the stronger eye work harder and thus improve vision. Eye patches are an excellent way to achieve this outcome.

Treating Double Vision and Diplopia Patients experiencing double vision can find relief using eye patches to obstruct one eye’s view while forcing it to focus on that of the unaffected eye instead, thus eliminating double vision altogether and giving the patient clear, focused vision.

Reducing Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are an increasingly prevalent issue that affects many individuals, often as a result of various medical conditions or medications. Dry eyes occur when tear production decreases while tear evaporation increases; eye patches can help alleviate discomfort caused by this condition by providing adequate hydration to eyes.

Floaters Floaters are small floating particles found in the vitreous that may move around freely within the retina and reduce central vision. This condition may result in dry eye or glaucoma symptoms as well as side effects from medications or procedures like cataract surgery; eye patches may help reduce their frequency as a treatment option for some forms of glaucoma.

Rejuvenating Eye Area

The skin around our eyes can be more fragile and sensitive than other parts of our faces, lacking sebaceous glands and elastin fibres that keep moisture locked into it, quickly losing moisture and showing signs of ageing. Luckily, many cosmetic treatments exist to rejuvenate this sensitive area, with eye patches being an easy yet effective solution to visibly reduce puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around eyes.