Retinal detachment is an emergency situation in which the thin tissue layer in the back of your eye lifts away from its usual position. This requires immediate treatment.
When part of the tissue in the back of your eye pulls away from where it’s usually positioned, it can lead to a medical eye emergency requiring fast surgical treatment.
This is known as retinal detachment.
When light passes through your eye, the lens focuses an image on your retina.
The retina, which is located at the back of the eye, converts the image to signals that it sends to your brain through the optic nerve. The retina works with the cornea, lens, and other parts of your eye and brain to produce normal vision.
When the retina separates from the back of the eye, it causes vision loss that can be partial or total, depending on how much of the retina is detached.
If the retina detaches, its cells may be seriously deprived of oxygen.
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency.
There are risk factors to keep mindful of, especially if you have a family history of retinal detachment or live with other eye conditions that might raise your risk for developing this type of detachment.
There’s a risk of permanent vision loss if retinal detachment is left untreated or if treatment is delayed.
You may not experience any pain once you have a retinal tear that might cause a detached retina.
But there may be symptoms before your retina detaches. Those
- blurred vision
- partial vision loss, which makes it seem as if a curtain has been pulled across your field of vision, with a dark shadowing effect
- sudden flashes of light in your vision
- suddenly seeing many floaters, which are small bits of debris that appear as black flecks or strings floating before your eye
Symptoms of retinal detachment typically occur quickly.
If the issue isn’t addressed immediately, more of the retina might detach and that can
The causes of retinal detachment depends on which of the
Each type develops because of a different problem that
Generally, the reasons for each type involve a tear, scar tissue, or disease playing a role in why retinal detachment happens.
| Type | Cause | Description | Prevalance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhegmatogenous | tear or hole in retina | fluid slips through opening gets behind your retina, separating retina from membrane providing oxygen and nourishment | most common type |
| Tractional | scar tissue | scar tissue on retina’s surface contracts, causing retina to pull away | may affect people with diabetes |
| Exudative | retinal conditions | fluid or blood vessels accumulation, causing protein leaks to build up behind retina | retinal diseases (Coats, inflammatory disorder, eye cancer) |
Anyone can experience retinal detachment, but there are a number of factors that may
- family history of retinal detachment
- you’ve had a serious eye injury in the past
- have gone through eye surgery in the past (e.g. cataract treatment)
- a past diagnosis of certain eye diseases
- extreme nearsightedness
- aging
Eye disease and general problems with your eyes may put you at
- diabetic retinopathy (diabetes affects blood vessels in the retina)
- posterior vitreous detachment (gel-like fluid in the center of the eye pulls away from the retina)
- retinoschisis (retina separates into two layers)
- lattice degeneration (thinning of the retina)
Learn more about who’s most at risk for retinal detachment.
To
- your overall vision quality
- eye pressure levels
- physical appearance of your eye
- ability to see colors
Your doctor may also test the ability of your retina to send impulses to your brain. They may check the blood flow throughout your eye, specifically in your retina.
Your doctor may also order an ultrasound of your eye. This painless test uses sound waves to create an image of your eye.
In most cases,
In other cases of minor detachments or tears of the retina, a procedure may be done in your doctor’s office.
For tears of the retina, laser surgery or freezing (cryopexy) are the most common treatment options. There are other treatment options for a detached retina, depending on the type and other factors.
Repairing a retinal detachment may involve the following procedures:
Laser: If you have a hole or tear in your retina but your retina is still attached, your doctor may perform a procedure called photocoagulation with a laser. The laser burns around the tear site, and the resulting scarring attaches your retina to the back of your eye.
Cryopexy: For this freezing treatment, your doctor will apply a freezing probe outside of your eye in the area over the retinal tear site, and the resulting scarring will help hold your retina in place.
Surgery: If a larger part of your retina is detached, surgery will move it back into place. The three most common surgeries are pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling, and vitrectomy. This may involve more complicated surgical procedures requiring anesthesia and different incisions, based on what your retinal detachment requires.
After each of the above procedures, you may need to take special precautions after the procedure. This could involve staying on your back, avoiding certain activities, and wearing an eye patch for a number of days afterward.
Learn more about repairing retinal detachment and what that mean for you. You can also find out more about what’s involved in recovering from a detached retina repair procedure.
In general, there’s usually no way to prevent retinal detachment.
However, you can
- wearing protective eyewear when playing sports, doing any heavy lifting, or using tools
- well-managed blood sugars if you diabetes
- getting dilated eye exams regularly
It’s also important to know the symptoms of retinal detachment and to consult your eye care team immediately if you’re at risk and you develop any of the symptoms.
The outlook
Some people can
Some people
Generally, retinal detachment surgery has
Depending on the severity of the tear, your doctor will consult with you and recommend which treatment option may be best for you.
Retinal detachment can occur for several reasons, ranging from preexisting health or eye conditions to trauma or injury to the retina.
This eye issue is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to help prevent permanent vision loss.
Treatment may include lasers, freezing, or different types of surgical procedures to reattach and repair the retina.