Outlook After Retinal Tear Surgery

[gyaffe]

I'm a little confused about the prospects for detachment still occurring after laser surgery is done to repair retinal tears. I was told that chances were 95% that a detachment would not occur after tears are repaired if no problems develop within 6 months. However, on one medical web page, it said in only 3-5 out of 100 repairs of tears by laser are detachments avoided. It's possible the two statements are consistant, but they certainly tell different stories. Can you clarify ?

I'm also concerned about increased likelihood of getting new tears after initial ones are repaired, especially where a "weak spot" was involved with the initial tears. Can you tell me about this and and about weak spots---i.e., are you born with them or do they develop ? If they develop, can they be detected by the doctor, used as an early warning, fixed ?

Thank you.

[gyaffe]

It's a great relief. Thanks very much.

Gene

[JohnHaganMD]

I believe you must have misinterpreted the second web page OR it's world's worst mediccal webpage. The statement that 95% of retinal tears treated with laser or freezing (cryotherapy) will prevent a retinal detachment from developing is about right. My experience it's even higher probably 97-98%. So forget the 3-5% succcess, it should be 95-97% success. Hope this relieves you. (remember not everything you find on the web is reliable).

JCH Eye MD