20-Year-Old Woman’s Vision Drops to 0.04 – Professor Chen Zhongping Steps In to Successfully Treat Retinal Detachment

Recently, Hengyang Aier Eye Hospital admitted a 20-year-old female patient, Ms. Fu (name changed), who originally came in for a pre-operative evaluation for myopic refractive surgery. To her surprise, she was diagnosed with severe retinal detachment in both eyes, with visual acuity reduced to just 0.04 in each eye – a critical condition. To provide the best possible treatment, the hospital specially invited Professor Chen Zhongping from Changsha Aier Eye Hospital to guide the procedure. Together with Dr. Zou Gaoren, Deputy Director of the Hospital’s Vitreoretinal Disease Department, they performed minimally invasive surgery that successfully saved the patient’s vision, earning high praise from the patient and her family.

Case Overview

Ms. Fu is a patient with high myopia. Long troubled by poor vision, she hoped to undergo refractive surgery to eliminate the need for glasses and visited Hengyang Aier Eye Hospital for a pre-operative examination. During the routine fundus examination, doctors discovered severe ocular pathology: a retinal tear with localized retinal detachment in the right eye, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with subretinal fluid in the left eye. Remarkably, the patient had experienced no noticeable symptoms or sudden vision loss, and was completely unaware of the condition. Without timely detection, the detachment could have led to irreversible vision damage.

Given that Ms. Fu is only 20 years old, has normal work and study demands, and places a high value on vision and quality of life, traditional vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade was deemed unsuitable. That procedure requires patients to maintain a face-down prone position for several weeks post-surgery, followed by a second operation to remove the silicone oil after three months. It also carries risks such as silicone oil emulsification, corneal injury, glaucoma, and other complications, which would significantly affect the patient’s daily life. In response, Dr. Zou Gaoren tailored a personalized treatment plan: laser photocoagulation for the right eye (due to the smaller area of detachment) and foldable capsular buckle (FCB) surgery for the left eye.

Compared to conventional surgery, FCB implantation offers significant advantages. The procedure requires only a 4mm conjunctival incision, causes minimal tissue damage, and results in less postoperative pain and faster recovery. Patients do not need to remain in a prolonged prone position, allowing them to resume normal activities sooner. Moreover, the technique effectively reduces the many complications associated with silicone oil tamponade. Once the balloon expands, it provides uniform and sustained support to the retinal tear and detachment area, and no secondary surgery is needed for removal. This makes FCB particularly suitable for younger patients and those with high visual demands. Under the precise guidance of both specialists, the surgery was successfully completed. Postoperative examinations showed good retinal reattachment and stable condition control, and Ms. Fu was highly satisfied with the outcome.

Expert Reminder

For patients with high myopia, the elongated axial length of the eye causes the retina to become thinner and more tense, making the risk of retinal detachment several times higher than that of the general population. Early symptoms of retinal detachment can be subtle, and some patients experience no discomfort at all, making the condition easy to overlook. Retinal detachment is an ophthalmic emergency – delayed treatment can lead to permanent vision loss. It is strongly recommended that individuals with high myopia undergo a comprehensive fundus examination at a正规 eye hospital every six months. If any symptoms such as vision decline, shadowing in the visual field, flashes of light, or a sudden increase in floaters occur, they should seek immediate medical attention. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are key to protecting eye health.