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  • Should I try a third surgery 2 years after my retina detached?


    Question:

    I have had two failed vitrectomies to correct a detached retina. I declined a third surgery using oil tamponade because I couldn’t miss work again. It's now been two years since I passed on the surgery. If I have the third surgery now, is there any chance to successfully reattach my retina?


    Answer:

    While reattachment surgery for a recurrent retinal detachment is not considered an emergency, we do recommend that it be performed within a few days or, at most, a few weeks of the diagnosis. After two years, the chances for successful reattachment will be reduced significantly, but not completely. I suggest that you return to your surgeon to see how much scarring has occurred that could affect the outcome of surgery.


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