Can I Have Laser Eye Surgery if I Have A Detached Retina?

The chances are you will know if you have a detached retina.

Some warning signs include noticing eye spots, floaters, and/or flashes or light. Your vision may also become blurry or deteriorate, possibly with a curtain-like shadow coming down across your field of vision.

These symptoms can happen gradually or suddenly, as the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue or detaches immediately. The former may be due to something like a high level of shortsightedness, the latter an injury to the eye or face.

A detached retina won’t cause any pain, but if you do experience any of the above it’s advised to seek treatment immediately. This will ensure you maximise your odds of retaining and regaining any lost vision. 

Unfortunately, Laser Eye Surgery cannot help treat a detached retina. However, once you have saught treatment, Laser Eye Surgery may be able to improve your vision by dealing with any refractive errors you may have.

Laser Eye Surgery and Detached Retinas

In the video below, Mr Glenn Carp explains a bit more about what happens in retinal detachment. As mentioned above, he advices it should be addressed first before being considered as a candidate for Laser Eye Surgery.

Youtube video link

As Glenn Carp explains, the retina is a structure at the back of the eye. When light rays pass through the cornea and the lens in the centre of the eye, it is focused to reach the retina, where it is sent as electrical impulses to the brain and converted into an image.

If the retina becomes detached, it is now sitting in an incorrect position to absorb the light. Patients who have a form of retinal detachment are thus advised to seek an opinion from a retinal expert in order to have their retinal detachment addressed first. Should that be successful, there is then a good chance they could be ideal candidates for Laser Eye Surgery.

Of course, your exact chances of being suitable depends on the severity of your condition. On top of this, the suitablity rate for Laser Eye Surgery varies from clinic to clinic. For instance, some clinics like ours have a suitability rate as high as 96 percent. The best way to find out is to speak with an expert.

If you’d like to find out if you are suitable for Laser Eye Surgery, leave us a comment or contact one of our friendly and experienced clinic coordinators today.