Overview

A buckling procedure is a type of surgery used to treat retinal detachment.

Retinal detachment

The retina is a thin layer of nerve cells lining the inside of the back of your eye. You need the retina to see properly. It turns the light that enters your eye into an image by sending a message along the optic nerve to your brain.

When this light-sensitive layer becomes separated from the inner wall of the eye, it's called retinal detachment. It usually only affects 1 eye.

A retinal detachment can cause loss of sight. This means that if it isn’t treated, it is likely that your vision in the affected eye will get worse and will become totally blind. This is why surgery is recommended to treat it.

Benefits of the buckling procedure

In 8 out of 10 patients, the retina is successfully reattached after 1 operation. In the others, a second surgery, or more, may be needed. 

Risks of the buckling procedure

There is a chance of infection in the eye (this happens in about 1 in 1,100 patients) and glaucoma (59 in 1,000 patients). These can be treated with drops if they are mild, or more surgery if they are severe.  

More than 95 out of 100 eyes with a retinal detachment can be successfully repaired with 1 or more operation.

Other treatment options

If your specialist thinks that you need scleral buckling surgery for your retinal detachment, there is likely to be no other option to save, or improve your sight.

Giving your permission (consent)

We want to involve you in decisions about your care and treatment. If you decide to have the procedure or treatment, we will ask you to sign a consent form. This says that you understand what is involved and agree to have the treatment.

Read more about our consent process.

Preparing for surgery

The surgery can be done under a local anaesthetic (where you are awake but feel nothing), or general anaesthetic (where you are asleep during the operation).

You can read our information about having an anaesthetic.

You'll be asked not to eat or drink anything (fast) for 6 hours before your procedure. 

Before you are given the anaesthetic, you'll be given eye drops to widen (dilate) your pupil.

During surgery 

The surgery involves sewing a piece of plastic to the outside white of your eye (sclera). The plastic acts as a 'buckle' and presses the sclera in towards the middle of the eye, so the torn retina can lie against the wall of the eye.

Gas bubbles are sometimes put into the eye during surgery if the retina does not stay in place with a buckle alone. The plastic can be left on the eye and should not be noticeable after the operation. 

After surgery 

You might need to stay in hospital for 1 or 2 days, or you might be able to leave on the same day.  

Managing pain and discomfort 

After surgery, your eye is likely to be a bit sore. You can take regular painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with this. Always follow the instructions on the packet.

If you are in a lot of pain you should go to your nearest eye casualty.

Eye drops

We will give you steroid eye drops and antibiotic eye drops to take home. You might also need to use drops to control the pressure in your eye if it is raised.

It's important that you use all the eye drops as directed.

Vision after surgery

You'll have a certain amount of vision in the eye but it is very hard to predict the exact amount. If the vision or pain that you have in your eye gets worse than it was on the day after surgery, you must contact us or go to eye casualty as soon as possible.

Returning to normal activities

If your recovery goes well, and no gas bubbles are used, there are no restrictions on flying or having an anaesthetic after this type of surgery.

Driving

You must be very cautious about driving after surgery. Check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered to start driving again. They might refuse to meet a claim if they feel you have driven too soon. 

Follow-up appointment

Before you leave hospital, we will give you a follow-up appointment. We will try to see you 1 to 3 weeks after your surgery.

If you have not been given an appointment, please contact us, phone: 020 7188 4311