What does a scleral buckle procedure involve?

The scleral buckle procedure is a surgical technique specifically designed to address retinal detachment, which is a condition where the retina separates from its underlying supportive tissue. This procedure involves the application of a circumferential band, known as a scleral buckle, around the eye to create an indentation or buckle in the sclera (the white outer wall of the eye). By doing this, the buckle shifts the position of the retina and helps to reattach it by reducing the traction on the retina caused by the detachment.

This approach is effective because it alters the shape of the eye and can facilitate the natural reattachment process of the retina. It is particularly useful for certain types of retinal detachments and has been a traditional treatment method in ophthalmic surgery for many years.

In contrast, the other options describe unrelated procedures that do not pertain to the treatment of retinal detachment. Transplantation of corneal tissue pertains to corneal disease or trauma, removal of a pterygium involves excision of a growth on the conjunctiva, and shortening of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle is a procedure aimed at correcting ptosis (drooping eyelids).