What Is Face-Down Recovery After Retinal Surgery?

Quick answer: After certain retinal surgeries, a gas bubble is placed in the eye, and keeping your head face-down lets the bubble float into position to hold the retina in place while it heals. Your surgeon will tell you how long, often from a few days to a week or more.

Why face-down positioning matters

The gas bubble must press against the right part of the eye to support healing. Recovering in the wrong position puts pressure on the wrong area and can cause the surgery to fail or lead to other problems. Stay face-down during daily activities (walking, eating) unless your surgeon says otherwise, and have someone help you move around safely. As the eye refills with its own fluid, the bubble gradually disappears.

Important: don't fly until the gas bubble is gone, altitude changes can dangerously raise eye pressure.

How to make face-down recovery easier

• Sitting: fold your arms on a table and rest your forehead on them.
• Lying down: lie face-down on a pillow with the recovering side hanging slightly off the edge of the bed to ease pressure.
• Equipment to rent or buy: face-down chairs, tabletop face cradles, face-down pillows (with a cut-out for your face), and angled mirrors so you can see ahead and watch TV or talk with visitors.

Retinal care at West Boca Eye Center

West Boca Eye Center in Boca Raton, with Dr. Brent Bellotte, provides advanced retina care, including support through recovery. Reach out with any questions.