patient advice
Last reviewed 01/2018
The patient with a retinal detachment can be given the following advice:
- before any corrective procedure, rest on on by a bed, avoiding strenuous activities that may provoke further detachment
- lying side or face-down has been advocated by some in order to promote the realignment of retinal layers
- after an operation:
- an eye pad will be worn overnight
- steroid and antibiotic drops are likely to be started the next day
- if gas or air has been inserted, the patient is advised to maintain the side/front lying position until it has been absorbed; this may necessitate lying still for a certain percentage of each hour while recuperating at home
- the eye is likely to feel swollen and the lids sore for a few days - this can be eased by analgesics such as Paracetamol
- the hospital stay is typically 3-6 days
- eye drops are continued for 4 weeks
- strenuous activity should be avoided for 4-6 weeks