Poor get poorer
As always, given the inequities built into the global economic system, the poorest people in the world have been the…
Retinal detachment is a very serious eye condition that occurs when the retina separates from the tissue around it. Since it does not get oxygen and nutrition under these conditions, you could permanently lose vision if the detached retina isn’t repaired promptly. The warning symptoms include the sudden appearance of many floaters — small bits of debris in our field of vision that look like spots, hairs or strings and seem to float before your eyes; sudden flashes of light in the affected eye; or a shadow or curtain over a portion of your visual field that develops as the detachment progresses.If you get warning symptoms as described above, contact an experienced retina specialist as soon as possible. In the initial stages there may be tears in the retina that can be immediately sealed by laser therapy (slit lamp or LIO) or cryotherapy that can prevent an actual retinal detachment.
Every person must get his/her retina checked at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes there are holes in the retina that do not cause any symptoms but can cause detachment. Those with minus glass power, YAG laser polishing after cataract surgery, complicated cataract surgery or eye trauma, previous retinal detachment in one eye or a family history of retinal detachment are at greater risk.
But retinal detachment does not imply the end. There has been so much advancement in vitreoretinal surgery that we can tackle difficult and complicated cases. But the best results are obtained when surgery is promptly done within a week. This can fully restore lost vision, but the timing is very important.
The whole surgery is done with microfine instruments that are as fine as the needle used to administer a tetanus injection and there is hardly any bleeding. Extremely good retinal surgery is now done in Kolkata at various centres and there is absolutely no need for patients to go elsewhere for treatment.
Apollo hospitals have now come up with a state-of-the-art eye care set-up that is equipped with the best machines and instruments required for retinal surgery.
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