Retina Surgery

Content medically reviewed by: Sarah Galchus, MD and Thalmon Ruela Campagnoli, MD

Receive personalized care when you choose Essentia Health for Retinal (Retina) Surgery. At our facilities in Duluth, MN and Fargo, ND, you will receive care from a trained retinal surgeon.

What’s a Retinal Surgeon?

A highly skilled medical doctor who is specialized in ophthalmology and is sub-specialized in diseases and surgery of the eye and retina.

What is Retinal Surgery?

Retinal surgery repairs many diseases that affect the back of the eye. Vitrectomy, the most common retinal surgery, is a procedure that removes the liquid gel – vitreous – which fills the space between the lens and retina. Vitrectomy is performed to treat retinal detachments and a variety of other retinal diseases. Scleral buckling is another type of eye surgery to correct a detached retina.

When Should You See a Retinal Specialist?

In most cases, you will see a retina specialist only through a referral after an eye exam by your eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist), when:

• Your eye doctor believes you have a retinal condition that is best managed and treated by a retinal specialist.
• Your eye doctor believes you have a surgical eye emergency (such as a detached retina).
• Your eye doctor has detected something unusual in your retina and wants a second opinion.

Retinal Care Treatments & Procedures

Your Essentia retina specialists are trained in the following surgical eye procedures:

• Retinal examination - Allows your doctor to evaluate the back of your eye
• Eye injections - Can treat certain eye problems and help protect your vision
• Laser surgery - Uses a laser to create burns on damaged retina
• Cryotherapy - Uses extreme cold to freeze abnormal tissue
• Ultrasound imaging - Provide an image of the retina and surrounding tissues when there is no view to the back of the eye
• Fluorescein angiography - Eye test uses a special dye and camera to view blood flow
• Retinal detachment surgery - Places the retina back onto its normal position
• Macular hole surgery - Fixes decreased vision caused by a central retinal defect
• Epiretinal membrane surgery - Removes scar tissue on the surface of the retina
• Diabetic retinopathy surgery - Removes blood and scar tissue from inside the eye or treats a retinal detachment caused from diabetes
• Intraocular lens removal surgery - Removes previously placed intraocular lens implant from the vitreous

Post-surgery Care

You will receive a recovery plan tailored to your procedure. Your doctor will discuss your postoperative retina surgery care with you.