Recovery time following the repair of retinal tears typically ranges from 1 week with laser surgery to 2 weeks amongst cryotherapy patients. Both create an adhesion between the retina and underlying choroid and retinal pigment epithelium, according to experts at Williamson Eye Institute.
In laser therapy, a contact lens focuses the laser on the retina, while cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to freeze around the tear from the outside of an indirect ophthalmoscope. The method used depends on the size and location of the tear, explains Williamson Eye Institute
Activity is limited until the scars from the respective surgery become strong enough to become permanent; a process that takes slightly longer with cryotherapy.
