Surgery for retinal detachment

RMA definition

The RMA has defined "surgery for retinal detachment" to mean "scleral encircling buckling surgery which involves the application of an encircling band with or without the insertion of a scleral buckle".

General information

Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue.  Initial detachment may be localized, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and blindness.  It is a medical emergency.

The retina is usually sealed with laser or cryotherapy and a silicone band is attached with tiny sutures to the outer surface of the eye (sclera).  This band gently presses on the eyeball, so that the vitreous pushes the retina against the back wall of the eye and holds it in place while the cryotherapy or laser 'seal' has time to form.  When the silicone is placed all around the outside circumference of the eye, this is called encircling buckling surgery.  Buckles are often placed under a band to create a dimple on the eye wall.

Encircling buckling surgery is generally performed in the operating room under general anaesthesia but, in some cases, may be performed under local anaesthesia.  Such surgery would be documented in medical records.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 20 AUGUST 2008.

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [26210]

26213 there is some evidence that having surgery for retinal detachment may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

26394 the veteran has had surgery for retinal detachment at some time.

26214 the veteran has had surgery for retinal detachment of side and site of the body at some time.

26215  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and VEA service for myopia.

26227 the veteran had surgery for retinal detachment of side and site of the body within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

26216   the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and VEA service for the clinical onset of myopia.

26220  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and operational service for the clinical onset of myopia.

or

26221  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and eligible service for the clinical onset of myopia.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

26218 the veteran had surgery for retinal detachment of side and site of the body within the three months before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26219   the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and VEA service for the clinical worsening of myopia.

26222  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and operational service for the clinical worsening of myopia.

or

26223  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery for retinal detachment and eligible service for the clinical worsening of myopia.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [26220]

26228  the retinal detachment of side and site of the body, for which the veteran had surgery, is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [26221]

26229  the retinal detachment of side and site of the body, for which the veteran had surgery, is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [26222]

26228  the retinal detachment of side and site of the body, for which the veteran had surgery, is causally related to operational service.

26230 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the retinal detachment of side and site of the body, for which the veteran had surgery, is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [26223]

26229  the retinal detachment of side and site of the body, for which the veteran had surgery, is causally related to eligible service.

26231 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the retinal detachment of side and site of the body, for which the veteran had surgery, is causally related.