Retinal Detachment

The retina is a light sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It captures light and sends signals to the brain that result in vision. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the underlying tissue and stops functioning. When the retina detaches, partial or total vision loss occurs, depending on how much of the retina is detached. In most cases, the retinal detachment is caused by a retinal tear or hole.

Risk factors for retinal detachment

Anyone can experience a retinal detachment, but there are factors that increase your risk including:

• Increasing age
• Family history of retinal detachment
• Short-sightedness (myopia)
• Previous cataract surgery
• Previous eye injury or trauma

Symptoms of retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is painless, but warning signs almost always appear before it occurs. Symptoms include:

• Sudden onset of many floaters (tiny black specks in your field of vision)
• Light flashes
• Blurred vision
• A curtain-like shadow or veil in your field of vision

Treatment

When a retinal tear or hole hasn’t progressed to a detachment, your ophthalmologist may recommend laser treatment (laser retinopexy). This is an outpatient procedure where a laser beam is directed into the eye to cause burns around the hole or tear, creating scarring that welds the retina back to the underlying tissue.

If your retina is detached, you will need surgery to repair it. Surgical procedures include:

• Vitrectomy: the gel-like fluid at the back of the eye is removed from inside the eye and the eye is filled a gas or air bubble to push the retina back into place.
• Scleral buckle surgery: a silicone band is sewn to the outside of the eye to push the back of the eye back into contact with the retina.