Retinal Detachment Specialist

Retinal Detachment

Blurry vision or rapidly worsening vision can be a sign of retinal detachment, a serious vision problem that can lead to blindness. To safeguard your eyesight, rely on Fuad Makkouk, MD, a Yale fellowship-trained surgical retina specialist at Austin Eye Center. He performs surgical treatments for retinal detachment in his office in Austin, Texas. Call today or book online for diagnosis and treatment of retinal detachment.

How does retinal detachment happen?

Your retina in the back of your eye is connected to the vitreous, a clear jellylike material that fills the center of your eye.
Sometimes the vitreous pulls away from your retina, tearing it in one or more places. Fluid fills this tear, lifting the retina off the back of your eye to cause retinal detachment.

What are the signs of retinal detachment?

A detached retina doesn’t work properly, causing vision that becomes blurry. Other potential symptoms include a large number of new floaters or flashes in your vision. You also might notice a gray curtain that crosses your field of vision.

Although flashes and floaters are quite common and don’t always mean you have a detached retina, if the flashes or floaters are suddenly more severe and your vision is worsening, call Austin Eye Center right away.

Retinal detachment can jeopardize your vision. It almost always causes blindness without proper treatment.

How is retinal detachment diagnosed?

Dr. Makkouk at Austin Eye Center diagnoses retinal detachment by dilating and examining your eye. He may suggest an ultrasound of your eye to gain additional details about the health of your retina. Once your diagnosis is complete, he recommends an appropriate surgical treatment to correct the detachment and safeguard your vision.

How is retinal detachment treated?

Dr. Makkouk treats most cases of retinal detachment with cryotherapy (freezing treatment), laser eye surgery, or vitrectomy to close the tear. Both laser surgery and cryotherapy work by sealing the retina to the back of your eye.

Vitrectomy is an outpatient procedure where Dr. Makkouk uses tiny surgical instruments to remove the vitreous in your eye, which is pulling on the retina, and replaces it with a gas bubble, repairing the detached retina.

When will my vision improve after retinal detachment repair?

Dr. Makkouk discusses realistic expectations based on the condition of your eye, the severity of the detachment, and other factors. After surgery, your vision should improve, but the process may take many months. In some cases, your vision may never return fully, particularly if the retinal tear was quite severe. That’s why it is important to contact Austin Eye Center as soon as you notice any problems with your vision.

If you have noticed more floaters or flashes than before, or your vision is suddenly worse, rely on Dr. Makkouk, a fellowship-trained surgical retina specialist, to prevent further damage due to retinal detachment. Call or book a consultation online with Austin Eye Center today.