Retina Detachment Details
A serious condition where the retina pulls away from the tissue supporting it, threatening vision.
Book ConsultationWhat is Retina Detachment?
Retinal detachment is a serious eye condition that occurs when the retina — the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye — pulls away from its normal position. When the retina becomes detached, it is separated from its underlying layer of blood vessels that provides oxygen and nourishment. The longer retinal detachment goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye. Retinal detachment is considered a medical emergency. Anyone experiencing symptoms of retinal detachment should seek immediate ophthalmic care. With prompt treatment, particularly within the first 24 hours, the chances of preserving vision are significantly improved.
Retina Detachment Symptoms
- The sudden appearance of many floaters — tiny specks that seem to drift through your field of vision
- Flashes of light in one or both eyes (photopsia)
- Blurred vision
- Gradually reduced side (peripheral) vision
- A curtain-like shadow over your visual field
- Straight lines that appear curved
- Loss of central vision in severe cases
Retina Detachment Causes
- Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment — caused by a hole or tear in the retina allowing fluid to pass through
- Tractional retinal detachment — caused by scar tissue on the retina's surface contracting
- Exudative retinal detachment — caused by fluid accumulating beneath the retina without holes or tears
- Aging and vitreous gel shrinkage (posterior vitreous detachment)
- Severe eye injury or trauma
- Previous eye surgery, especially cataract surgery
- Extreme nearsightedness (high myopia)
- Family history of retinal detachment
- Degenerative conditions of the retina such as lattice degeneration
Treatment for Retina Detachment
- Laser surgery (photocoagulation) to seal retinal tears
- Cryopexy (freezing treatment) to seal retinal breaks
- Pneumatic retinopexy — injecting a gas bubble into the eye to push the retina back into place
- Scleral buckle surgery — placing a silicone band around the eye to indent the wall and relieve traction
- Vitrectomy — removing the vitreous gel and replacing it with a gas bubble or silicone oil
- Postoperative positioning to keep the gas bubble in the correct location
- Monitoring and follow-up care to ensure proper healing
When to See a Doctor
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If you experience sudden onset of floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain-like shadow over your vision, seek emergency eye care immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own. The sooner treatment is administered, the better the visual outcome. Even if symptoms seem to subside, you should still be evaluated by an ophthalmologist, as these can be warning signs of an impending detachment.
Related Conditions
A condition where the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object.
A clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, leading to decreased vision.
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye.
A diabetes complication that affects the eyes, caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina.
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