Scleral Buckling Specialist

What is scleral buckling?

Scleral buckling is a type of eye surgery used to repair retinal detachment, tears, or holes, and restore your vision.

Your retina is the layer of tissue at the back of your eyes that is responsible for transmitting visual information to the optic nerve in your brain. Retinal detachment happens when your retina slips from its normal position, which causes partial or complete vision loss and, if left untreated, this vision loss can be permanent. 

Why do I need scleral buckling?

Retinal detachment is often due to injury caused by a blow to your eye or its surrounding areas. But certain factors increase your chances of developing it, like:

• Aging
• Extreme nearsightedness
• Prior eye surgery
• Diabetes
• Personal or family history of retinal detachment
• Uveitis

If your retina has detached, scleral buckling can support its healing by manipulating your sclera toward the middle of the eye to help reattach your retina and close any tears. This procedure helps heal your retina and raises the chances of saving your vision.  

What should I expect during scleral buckling?

At Retina Specialists, your surgeon provides anesthesia or an oral sedative to relax you during the procedure. They dilate your pupils with eye drops and make an incision into the sclera. 

Your surgeon attaches a silicone buckle or sponge onto the white of your eye — the sclera — at the point where your retina has torn or detached. This buckle is designed to push the sclera closer to the middle of your eye to reattach your retina and repair the tear. 

Your surgeon may use extreme heat or cold to create scar tissue and seal the area around the tear or detachment. The entire procedure takes about one hour. 

After surgery, your doctor drains any excess fluid behind your retina and uses antibiotics to prevent infection. 

What is the recovery time for scleral buckling?

You go home the day of your scleral buckling surgery, and your recovery lasts for 2-4 weeks. 

You may experience some pain right after the procedure, but this goes away in a few days. Your eyes may also be swollen, red, and tender, and to protect them, your Retina Specialists surgeon provides a hard eye patch, that you must wear for a few days after your surgery.

Your surgeon may also provide antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection. They adjust the dosage of these drops at your follow-up appointment, where your specialist checks the progress of your recovery and whether the procedure has worked.

To learn more about scleral buckling and whether you’re a candidate for this surgery, call Retina Specialists or use the online scheduling tool to book your consultation today.