This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Patient advice

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

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

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.