Retinal Tears or Detachments
What is the retina?
The retina is a nerve layer at the back of your eye that senses
light and sends images to your brain.
An eye is like a camera. The lens in the front of the eye focuses
light onto the retina. You can think of the retina as the film that
lines the back of the camera.
What is a retinal detachment?
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina is pulled away from
its normal position. The retina does not work when it is detached.
Vision is blurred, like a camera picture would be blurry if the
film were loose inside the camera.
A retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always
causes blindness unless it is treated.
What causes retinal detachment?
The vitreous is a clear gel that fills the middle of the eye. As
we get older, the vitreous may pull away from its attachment to
the retina at the back of the eye. Usually the vitreous separates
from the retina without causing problems. But sometimes the vitreous
pulls hard enough to tear the retina in one or more places. Fluid
may pass through the retinal tear, lifting the
retina off the back of the eye, like wallpaper can peel off a wall.
The following conditions increase the chance that you might get
a retinal detachment;
Nearsightedness;
Previous cataract surgery;
Glaucoma;
Severe injury;
Previous retinal detachment in the other eye;
Family history of retinal detachment;
Weak areas in your retina that can be seen by your ophthalmologist. |
What are the warning symptoms of a retinal detachment?
These early symptoms may indicate the presence of a retinal detachment:
Flashing lights;
New floaters;
A gray curtain or shadow moving across your field of vision. |
These symptoms do not always mean a retinal detachment is present;
however, you should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
An ophthalmologist can diagnose a retinal detachment during a dilated
eye examination. Some retinal detachments are found during routine
eye examinations.
What treatment is needed?
Retinal Tears
Most retinal tears need to be treated with laser surgery or cryotherapy
(freezing), which seals the retina to the back wall of the eye.
These treatments cause little or no discomfort and may be performed
in our office. Treatment usually prevents retinal detachment. In
some cases, retinal tears can be observed without treatment.
Retinal Detachments
Almost all patients with retinal detachments require surgery to
put the retina back in its proper position.
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