Retinal detachment surgery reattaches the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye and seals the tear that caused it. In Istanbul, your retina care is led by Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer (Doç. = Associate Professor) or Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram, who examine your retina, explain which operation suits your eye and stay with you through recovery, with a personal interpreter at every appointment.
A retinal detachment is an emergency: the retina peels away from the back of the eye and stops working. Surgery seals the tear and holds the retina in place, using vitrectomy (keyhole surgery with a gas or oil bubble), a scleral buckle or a gas injection. One operation succeeds in about 85–90% of eyes. In Istanbul, Doç. Dr. Özer or Op. Dr. Bayram repair it from {{£ price}} per eye; hotel and transfers are extra.
The NHS, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the US National Eye Institute (NEI) all give the same advice: if you suddenly notice new floaters, flashes of light, a shadow or "curtain" across part of your vision, or sudden blurring, see an eye doctor or go to the emergency department straight away. Do not wait to travel for treatment. If you are already in Turkey, message us and we will arrange an urgent examination with our retina surgeon {{urgent appointment availability, e.g. "the same day"}}. If you are at home, use your local emergency eye service first; we are happy to review your scans afterwards.
Retinal detachment happens when the retina, the thin layer of nerve cells lining the inside of the eye, is pulled away from the tissue that supports and nourishes it. A detached retina does not work, so vision in that part of the eye goes blurred or dark, and without treatment it usually leads to blindness in that eye.
The most common type starts with a tear. With age, the clear jelly that fills the eye (the vitreous) shrinks and pulls away from the retina. This is called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), and it is normal. Occasionally the jelly tugs hard enough to tear the retina. Fluid then seeps through the tear and lifts the retina off, like a bubble under wallpaper. Doctors call this a rhegmatogenous detachment. Two less common types exist: tractional (scar tissue pulls the retina off, for example in diabetic eye disease) and exudative (fluid builds up behind the retina without a tear).
Detachment itself is painless, which is why people sometimes wait. According to EyeWiki (AAO), when bleeding into the jelly accompanies an acute PVD, the chance of a retinal tear is very high (70–95%).
Who is most at risk? The NHS, AAO and NEI list:
How common is it? A 2024 meta-analysis of 33 studies from 21 countries put the yearly rate of tear-related detachment at about 12 per 100,000 people worldwide, and about 14.5 per 100,000 in Europe, with rates rising over time.
Not long. A retinal detachment should be treated within days at most, and much sooner if the centre of the retina is still attached. The NEI advises going to an eye doctor or the emergency room right away and says surgery usually happens within a few days, because delay increases the risk of permanent sight loss.
What decides the urgency is the macula, the small central area of the retina you use for reading and recognising faces:
| Situation | What it means | Why timing matters |
|---|---|---|
| Macula-on (centre still attached) | Central vision is still good | Surgeons treat this as an emergency, to stop the detachment reaching the centre. EyeWiki lists macular status before surgery as a key factor in the final result. |
| Macula-off (centre detached) | Central vision is already blurred | A 2023 study of 719 eyes (Miyake et al., Ophthalmology Retina) found better vision at 6 months when surgery was done within 2 days of the macula detaching than at 3 days, and better at 3 days than at 4 or more. |
A tear caught before the retina detaches is far easier to treat. EyeWiki reports that 33–55% of symptomatic horseshoe tears progress to detachment, and that prompt laser or freezing treatment around the tear cuts that risk to under 5%.
There is no single "retinal detachment surgery name": there are three main operations, and the right one depends on where the tear is, how much retina is detached, your age and whether you have had cataract surgery. All three close the tear by creating a scar around it, with laser (photocoagulation) or freezing (cryotherapy), and then hold the retina flat while that scar forms. One NHS patient leaflet notes the seal usually takes about ten days to form.
The most common retinal detachment treatment today. This is keyhole surgery inside the eye: the surgeon makes tiny openings, less than 1 mm across, removes the vitreous jelly that is pulling on the retina, flattens the retina, treats the tears with laser or freezing, and fills the eye with a bubble of air, gas or silicone oil that acts as an internal splint.
A soft silicone band or sponge is stitched to the outside of the eyeball, under the skin of the eye, so the wall of the eye is pushed gently against the tear. The buckle usually stays in place permanently and cannot be seen. It is often chosen for younger patients who still have their natural lens. It can be combined with vitrectomy for more extensive or complex detachments.
A small gas bubble is injected into the eye and you hold your head in a specific position for several days, so the bubble presses the retina back into place; the tear is sealed with freezing or laser. It suits selected detachments caused by a single tear (or tears close together) in the upper part of the retina.
If the retina is torn but not yet detached, laser photocoagulation or cryopexy can often seal it on its own. The AAO says laser usually takes less than 15 minutes and freezing less than 30 minutes, and both can be done in the clinic.
Technology we use: {{vitrectomy system name and gauge, e.g. "23/25-gauge"}}, a wide-angle viewing system, endolaser and {{tamponade options available: air / SF6 / C2F6 / C3F8 / silicone oil}}, in a fully equipped, Ministry of Health–licensed operating theatre in Istanbul. Before surgery your retina is mapped with a dilated examination, an OCT scan of the macula and, if blood blocks the view, an ultrasound scan.
Argon laser (retinal laser photocoagulation) for retinal tearsYour surgeon chooses the operation only after examining the whole retina, but these are the usual patterns:
| Vitrectomy | Scleral buckle | Pneumatic retinopexy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Jelly removed from inside; gas, air or oil bubble holds the retina | Band on the outside pushes the eye wall against the tear | Gas injected into the eye; head positioning |
| Often chosen for | Most detachments, especially after cataract surgery, large or multiple tears, bleeding inside the eye | Younger eyes with their natural lens; some tears at the edge of the retina | A single tear, or tears close together, in the upper retina |
| Single-operation success (published) | 93% (PIVOT trial) | Similar to vitrectomy overall (2023 review) | 81% (PIVOT trial) |
| Effect on your natural lens | Cataract is likely to develop afterwards | Lens is left untouched | Lens is left untouched |
| Positioning after surgery | Often, for up to about 7 days if gas or oil is used | Usually not needed | Yes, for several days |
| Flying | Not until gas has gone (2–12 weeks); with silicone oil, not for 2 weeks unless your surgeon clears you | Allowed once your surgeon agrees, if no gas was used | Not until the gas has gone |
What the research says about choosing. In the PIVOT randomised trial (Hillier et al., Ophthalmology 2019), vitrectomy reattached the retina with one operation more often (93.2% vs 80.8%), but patients treated with pneumatic retinopexy who were suitable for it had slightly better vision at one year, by about 4.9 letters on the chart. A 2023 review (Warren et al., Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology) found no clear difference in first-time reattachment between scleral buckle and vitrectomy overall, and some advantage for combining the two in more extensive or macula-off detachments.
Who should not travel for detachment surgery? Anyone whose detachment threatens the macula and who is not already in Istanbul should be treated where they are, without delay. Travel makes sense for a planned procedure, a second opinion, follow-on surgery or care while you are already in Turkey.
At Laser Istanbul Clinic, retinal detachment surgery starts from {{£ price}} per eye. The final price depends on the operation and whether silicone oil, a scleral buckle or combined cataract surgery is needed. Your surgeon confirms it in writing after reviewing your scans.
Typical published prices for vitrectomy, per eye (2025–26):
| Where | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| UK, private | about $8,000–13,400 |
| USA | about $8,000–14,000 |
| Istanbul (published package prices) | about $3,200–6,500 |
| Istanbul with Laser Istanbul Clinic | from {{£ price}} |
Typical ranges advertised by clinics and price-comparison sites in 2025–26 for vitrectomy, not quotes. Published Istanbul prices are often packages that include a hotel. In the UK, a sudden retinal detachment is treated urgently through the NHS.
Not included: flights, hotel and airport transfers. Hotel and transfers are a separate charge, and we can arrange them for you if you ask. If your eye needs a gas bubble, plan for a longer stay (see below) and budget for it.
If silicone oil needs to be removed later, that second operation is {{£ oil removal price}}.
Upload your eye report, OCT or ultrasound images and your symptoms. Our retina surgeon replies within {{response time}}. If your symptoms are new, we will tell you to get seen locally first.
For planned surgery, allow {{typical stay}} in Istanbul. If a gas bubble is likely, plan to stay until you are cleared to fly, or discuss silicone oil with your surgeon.
Dilated retinal examination, OCT scan, ultrasound if needed, eye pressure and a check of the other eye. Your surgeon explains which operation suits you and why.
Most retinal detachment operations are done under local anaesthetic: you are awake, the eye is numbed and you feel no pain. You go back to your hotel the same day, usually with a pad and shield over the eye.
If you have gas or oil in your eye, you may need to hold your head in a set position for up to about 7 days. NHS guidance describes holding the position for 50 minutes in every hour.
Your surgeon checks your eye the next day and again before you leave, and confirms when you can fly.
Your coordinator stays in touch and your surgeon reviews your progress by video. We send a written report for your eye doctor at home.
Detached retina recovery usually takes 2 to 6 weeks for the eye to heal, and vision keeps improving for months after that. The AAO says sight should begin to improve about four to six weeks after surgery, and the retina can go on healing for a year or more.
The eye is padded and shielded. Vision is very blurred if there is a gas bubble; this is normal.
Positioning if advised. Itching, sticky lids and a gritty feeling from stitches are common for 5–10 days. Use your drops exactly as prescribed. Wear the shield at night.
The eye heals; redness settles over a few weeks. Many people need time off work. Gas bubbles shrink: you see a wobbling line, like a spirit level, which drops lower until the bubble disappears.
Gas fully absorbed (depending on the type). Only then is flying safe.
Vision continues to improve slowly. A new glasses prescription may help. If silicone oil was used, it is usually removed in a second operation.
The retina continues to recover.
Most stitches dissolve in about four to five weeks. Reading, watching TV and using a computer do not harm the eye. Call your coordinator straight away if you have severe pain, increasing redness or a sudden drop in vision.
Before surgery (if you are waiting for a planned repair): follow your surgeon's instructions exactly. Avoid strenuous activity and contact sports, and do not wait if new symptoms appear.
After surgery:
Most people are eventually able to return to all their normal activities, as the NHS puts it, but how much sight returns depends on how the detachment started. When a detachment is found and repaired before the centre of the retina comes off, most central vision is usually kept. When the macula has already detached, surgery usually brings back some, but not all, of your sight: reading with that eye may stay difficult, while side vision, which matters for walking and stairs, is usually preserved.
Three things are worth knowing for the long term:
If you still have your natural lens, the operation and the gas speed up cataract formation; a 2023 review reports cataract in about 72% of eyes after modern small-gauge vitrectomy. It is treated with routine cataract surgery when it develops.
Retinal weakness is often present in both eyes, and EyeWiki notes a raised risk of detachment in the second eye. Know the warning signs and have both eyes examined as your surgeon advises.
The NHS says a detachment can come back; if flashes, floaters or a shadow return, seek help immediately.
Retinal detachment surgery is usually successful, but not always on the first attempt, and you should know the numbers.
Success rates. NHS consent information quotes an 85–90% chance that one operation reattaches the retina and it stays attached, and the NEI puts overall success at about 90%. EyeWiki states that anatomical success exceeds 90% with modern techniques. The AAO says about 1 in 20 patients need a second operation; NHS guidance puts the risk of further surgery at 5–10%.
The main reason for failure: scar tissue. In proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the eye's own healing response forms scar tissue that contracts and can pull the retina off again. EyeWiki reports PVR in about 8–10% of first repairs. It is linked to poorer vision and is the main reason some eyes need more than one operation, often with silicone oil.
Very rarely, complications can lead to blindness in the operated eye. Your surgeon explains your personal risks in writing and through your interpreter before you sign anything.
There is no diet, supplement or eye exercise proven to prevent retinal detachment. Most detachments come from age-related changes in the vitreous, and the NHS says there is nothing you can do to stop a PVD leading to a detachment. What you can do is catch problems early and avoid injury:
There are three main operations: vitrectomy (pars plana vitrectomy), scleral buckle and pneumatic retinopexy. Vitrectomy is the most widely used today. A torn retina that has not yet detached is often sealed with laser photocoagulation or freezing (cryopexy) alone.
Only a short time. A detachment that has not reached the macula is treated as an emergency, and for macula-off detachments a 2023 study found better vision when surgery was done within 2–3 days. The NEI advises seeing an eye doctor or emergency department right away.
Most operations are done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake but the eye is numb and you feel no pain. Afterwards the eye can feel gritty, itchy and sore for 5–10 days, which ordinary painkillers usually control. General anaesthetic is rarely needed.
The eye usually takes 2 to 6 weeks to heal, and you may need that long off work. Vision starts to improve at about 4–6 weeks and keeps improving for months. A gas bubble can take 2 to 12 weeks to disappear, depending on the gas.
Not while there is gas in your eye: UK NHS guidance gives about 2 weeks for air, 4 weeks for SF6, 8 weeks for C2F6 and 12 weeks for C3F8. With silicone oil it is usually 2 weeks, with your surgeon's agreement. After a scleral buckle without gas, you can fly once your surgeon has checked the eye.
Avoid flying, high altitude, scuba diving and nitrous oxide while gas is in the eye. Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and rubbing the eye, keep soapy water out of the eye and do not drive until your surgeon says your vision is safe. Follow your positioning instructions closely.
Published prices for vitrectomy in Istanbul are about $3,200–6,500 per eye, compared with about $8,000–14,000 privately in the UK or USA. With Laser Istanbul Clinic it starts from {{£ price}} per eye, including examination and scans, surgery, medication, follow-up checks, interpreter and coordinator. Hotel and transfers are extra.
Usually some, and often most, if the detachment is repaired quickly. If the macula stayed attached, most central vision is usually kept. If it had already detached, vision usually improves but may not return to normal.
Yes. Around 5–10% of eyes need further surgery, mainly because of new tears or scar tissue (PVR). The other eye also has a higher risk, so learn the warning signs and keep your follow-up appointments.
Not reliably: most detachments come from normal ageing of the vitreous. You lower your risk of losing sight by acting on new flashes or floaters the same day, having regular dilated eye checks if you are short-sighted or have had cataract surgery, and wearing eye protection for risky sports.
Retina care is led by Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer, an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology whose work covers medical and surgical retina, and Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram, whose focus includes retinal disease. You know your surgeon's name before you book.
I went to Dr Derda for emergency surgery for a detached retina. He saw me immediately, diagnosed me, and fully explained my options. The surgery was painless and efficient, and I am very happy with my follow up treatment. I fully recommend Dr Derda and his team.
Source: WUPDoc
I had retinal tear surgery with Dr. Derda. An extremely attentive, positive physician when it comes to the flow of information during the examination stage, the surgery and afterwards.
Source: WUPDoc · translated from Turkish
Retinal detachment surgery is one part of retina care. These treatments are often discussed alongside it:
| Retinal detachment surgery | Argon laser (photocoagulation) | Intravitreal injections | Vitrectomy (other uses) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treats | Detached retina | Retinal tears and lattice before detachment; diabetic retinopathy | Wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema, vein occlusion | Macular hole, epiretinal membrane, bleeding inside the eye, diabetic disease |
| Where it is done | Operating theatre | Clinic, minutes | Clinic, minutes | Operating theatre |
| Stay in Istanbul | Longer if a gas bubble is used | Short | Repeated visits | Longer if a gas bubble is used |
The keyhole operation behind most detachment repairs, also used for macular holes and bleeding inside the eye.
Vitrectomy surgery in IstanbulSeals a torn retina before it detaches.
Retinal laser photocoagulation (argon laser)For wet macular degeneration and diabetic macular swelling, not for detachment.
Intravitreal injections (anti-VEGF eye injections)Injections for wet AMD and the Scharioth macula lens for advanced dry AMD.
Macular degeneration treatment & Scharioth macula lensSend us your eye report, OCT or ultrasound images. Doç. Dr. Özer or Op. Dr. Bayram will tell you what your scans show, which operation may suit you, how long you would need to stay in Istanbul and what it would cost, with no obligation. If your symptoms are new, get seen locally first.
Your case is reviewed by a named surgeon, not a salesperson. Reply within {{response time}}.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Satıcı
Doç. Dr. Muhammet Derda Özer
Op. Dr. Aysan Bayram
