Pneumatic Retinopexy is an effective surgery for certain types of retinal detachments. A bubble of gas is used to push the retina against the wall of the eye, thus allowing fluid to be pumped out from beneath the retina. It is usually an outpatient procedure done with local anesthesia.

During pneumatic retinopexy, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) injects a gas pneumatic retinopexybubble into the middle of the eyeball. Your head is positioned so that the gas bubble floats to the detached area and presses lightly against the detachment. The bubble flattens the retina so that the fluid can be pumped out from beneath it. The eye doctor then uses a freezing probe (cryopexy) or laser beam (photocoagulation) to seal the tear in the retina.

The bubble remains for about a week to help flatten the retina, until a seal forms between the retina and the wall of the eye. The eye gradually absorbs the gas bubble.

A variation of this surgery uses a large bubble of silicone oil instead of a gas bubble to close and flatten the retina. A vitrectomy procedure, in which the vitreous gel is removed, is required to inject silicone oil. Because the silicone oil cannot be absorbed, a second procedure may be needed to remove the oil after the retinal detachment has healed

The most frequent problems from pneumatic retinopexy include:

• Scarring on the retina, called proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), which often causes the retina to detach again. This is the most common cause of failure in surgery for retinal detachment. PVR usually requires additional treatment, including surgery
• Formation of new breaks and tears.
• Need for more than one surgery to reattach the retina. This is much more common with pneumatic retinopexy than with scleral buckling.
• Fluid persisting under the retina or being absorbed only very slowly.
• Small bubbles of the gas becoming trapped underneath the retina.

Although they do not occur very often, other complications include:

• The detachment spreading into the macula and affecting central vision.
• Increase in pressure inside the eye (glaucoma).
• Detachment of the choroid, the middle layer of tissue that forms the eyeball. Choroidal detachment occurs in a small number of people who have pneumatic retinopexy, and it usually heals on its own without further treatment.
• Bleeding in the vitreous gel (vitreous hemorrhage) or under the retina (subretinal
• Increase in pressure inside the eye (glaucoma).
• A decrease in pressure inside the eye when the oil is removed.
• Development of problems in the cornea and lens (including cataracts).

The success of pneumatic retinopexy depends on keeping the gas bubble against the retina until it flattens. This will require you to hold your head and eye in the proper position for long periods of time.

Typically it takes about 3 weeks to recover from pneumatic retinopexy. It is very important to maintain the position of the gas bubble in the right place until a seal forms around the tear in the retina.

• Head and eye have to be maintained in the proper position for 16 to 21 hours a day for 1 to 3 weeks after the surgery.
• During recovery you are advised to lie face down or the bubble will move to the front of the eye and press against the lens.
• Avoid air travel as lower pressures cause the gas bubble to expand.

When silicone oil is used instead of gas, there may be less need to keep your head and eye in a precise position, because the oil bubble does not move as readily as a gas bubble. This may make the surgery and recovery easier for older adults, young children, and anyone who may have trouble keeping his or her head and eye in the proper position.

The location and size of a tear in the retina determines whether pneumatic retinopexy can be used. Pneumatic retinopexy can be useful when:

• A single break or tear caused the detachment.
• Multiple breaks are small and close to each other.
• The break is in the upper part of the retina.

The break must be in the upper half of the eyeball for pneumatic retinopexy to be practical. You have to be able to position your head so that the break and the bubble are at the highest point. If the break was on the bottom of the eyeball, you would have to stay upside down during your recovery, which would not be practical.

A single treatment with pneumatic retinopexy reattaches the retina most of the time. With additional treatments such as vitrectomy or scleral buckling, the surgery is successful nearly all the time. Chances for good vision after surgery are higher if the macula was still attached before surgery. If the detachment affected the macula, good vision after surgery is still possible but less likely.

The other Ophthalmology Procedures are

• Canalicular Tear Repair
• Lamellar Keratoplasty … etc

Few Major Hospitals for Pneumatic Retinopexy are

• Wockhardt Hospitals
• Apollo Hospitals
• Max Healthcare
• Piyavate Hospital
• Florence Nightingale Hospital

Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and India are the most cost effective locations that offer up to almost 80% savings in comparison to the US.

SurgeryPlanet facilitates a plethora of services to the medical treatment traveler also which includes, a hassle free and discounted travel option, a welcome hand at the airport on arrival, travel in an air-conditioned car, round the clock service & support. Your medical evaluation is pre arranged with the least of waiting time. Once your assessment is complete and found medically fit, the procedure is immediately scheduled without a waiting period. Please read through our Services and Testimonials to understand and select your best options.

• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Turkey
• India

Major Treatments Abroad: Obesity / Bariatric Surgery | Spine Surgery | Stem Cell therapy | Fertility treatment | Knee replacement in India and Thailand | Heart Surgery | Organ transplant | Ayurveda Treatment | Heart valve replacement | Hip resurfacing | Hospitals in India and Thailand for Laparoscopic Sterilization| Best hospitals in Asia | JCI & ISO certified Hospitals | Cost effective medical procedures | Healthcare tourism | Complete privacy for affordable cost | Weight loss procedures | Infertility treatment | Board certified physicians | Low cost surgeries

SurgeryPlanet is an Healthcare Facilitator and not a Medical service provider. The information provided in this website is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition or use for any medical purposes. We provide information solely for medical travel facilitation and do not endorse any particular health care provider, hospital, facility, destination or any healthcare service or treatment listed. We are not an agent for, or affiliated to any health care provider, or service listed in our website and is not responsible for health care services provided by them. Choice of hospital or doctor for your healthcare services is your independent decision. Consult your domestic licensed health care provider before seeking the services of any health care provider you learn about from our website.