Is Retinal Detachment Surgery Covered by Health Insurance?

A layer of tissues located at the back of the eyeball is called the retina. This layer converts the light that enters the eye into electric signals. These electric signals are sent to your brain that helps you see. However, sometimes the retina separates from the eyeball causing the vision to become blurred and distorted. Retinal detachment is more common in people above the age of 60 years and if it is not treated immediately it can cause permanent damage to the vision. Fortunately, there are many different treatment options for fixing retina detachment. The retina can be attached back to the eye with a retinal detachment surgery such as a laser surgery for retinal hole. If you're wondering whether surgery of retinal detachment is covered by insurance, read on to learn more about your options.

What is Retinal Detachment? Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

When the retina is detached from its position, the separated retinal cells result in a lack of oxygen and nutrition supply to the eye which affects the vision. This condition is called retinal detachment.

Causes of Retinal Detachment

Some common causes of retinal detachments are:

• Ageing
• Eye injury
• Previous family history of retinal detachment
• Cataract surgery
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Thinning of retina
• Nearsightedness
• History of retinal tear etc.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment does not cause any pain. However, there are symptoms which can help in timely diagnosis:

• Seeing light flashes in one or both eye
• Suddenly see a lot of floaters (dark spots, threads, flecks, lines drifting across your vision)
• Partial loss of vision
• Shadow covering your vision, etc.

Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is diagnosed through eye check-ups to examine your vision, the appearance of your eyes, blood flow in the eye, ability to see colours and eye pressure. Different types of tests that can diagnose a retinal detachment are:

• Retinal examination using bright light and special lenses to detect any tear, hole or detachment in the retina.
• Ultrasound imaging is used to check for any injuries or bleeding in the retina that is obstructing vision.

Is Retinal Detachment Surgery Covered By Insurance?

In most cases, surgery is the only option to treat retinal detachment. However, in mild cases where there is just a retinal tear, a simple procedure can also help. Most of the treatment options available to fix retinal detachment can be completed within a day and do not require hospitalisation of more than 24 hours. Hence, these procedures are mostly covered under daycare treatments. The cost of private retinal detachment surgery ranges from ₹ 3000 to ₹ 1,10,000. It is recommended that you check your health insurance policy terms and conditions to ensure that retinal detachment surgery is covered.

Here are some common types of surgeries used to treat retinal detachment.

• Photocoagulation: It is laser surgery for retinal holes and is used in cases where the retina is not detached but has a hole or a tear, which is fixed with the help of a laser. The retinal tear laser surgery cost ranges from ₹ 3000 to ₹ 5000.
• Cryopexy: In this procedure, intense cold application through a special probe is done to the retina to create scar tissue preventing the extension of the retinal tear. The treatment cost is similar to the cost of laser surgery to repair retinal tears. 
• Pneumatic Retinopexy: This procedure is used to treat minor detachments by injecting a gas bubble into the eye which closes the tear. After this process, laser surgery may be required to seal the tear. The cost of this treatment starts from ₹ 40,000.
• Scleral Buckling: In this procedure, a synthetic material is used to reattach the retinal back to the eyeball. It costs from ₹ 40,000 to ₹ 60,000.
• Vitrectomy: In this procedure, the doctor removes the vitreous present in the back of your eye and replaces it with a bubble of gas or a bubble of silicon oil. The bubble pushes and keeps the retina at its position while it heals. The gas bubble disappears in 6 months but a silicon oil bubble is removed once the retina is healed. The cost of this treatment starts from ₹ 50,000.

In addition to these procedures, stem cell therapy can also be used to repair irreversible damage to the retina and to restore lost vision. It involves the use of a stem cell graft to do a retinal transplant for retinal detachment. However, this procedure is still in its research phase but has a lot of potential in curing retinal damage.

>> Also Read: The Need of Health Insurance For Cataract Surgery

What to Do After Retinal Detachment Surgery?

Recovery after retinal detachment surgery may take up to 6 weeks. For successful recovery follow your doctor’s advice and do the following:Wear an eye patch as recommended by your doctor.

• If a bubble has been injected, follow your doctor’s advice to hold your head position for quick healing.
• Use eye drops without fail as recommended by your doctor.

After following these tips you will notice an improved vision within a few weeks.

In a Nutshell

Retinal detachment can be prevented through regular eye check-ups and maintaining good health, especially if you are above 60 years old. It is also recommended to invest in a comprehensive health insurance plan to protect yourself from the financial burden of expensive medical treatments including eye surgeries. Care Health Insurance offers a variety of plans that cover a range of daycare treatments including eye-related surgeries, for example Care Freedom offers coverage for cataract or procedures for retinal disorders under specific disease category. The scope of coverage entirely depends on the policy terms and conditions. Kindly visit the official website or connect with our experts for more information.

Disclaimers: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.