What is a retinal detachment? A retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from its underlying layer, the choroid. A retinal detachment is one of the most common eye emergencies, and must be treated quickly to avoid having it get worse.
What are the different types of retinal detachment? There are 3 basic types of retinal detachments:
1) Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment A rhegmatogenous retinal detachment occurs when there is a hole, break or tear in the retina. Fluid from the vitreous cavity can seep underneath the retina and cause it to detach.
2) Exudative retinal detachment An exudative retinal detachment occurs when fluid accumulates underneath the retina without a tear, break or hole in the retina. There are many causes of this type of retinal detachment; examples include high blood pressure, inflammation or trauma.
3) Tractional retinal detachment
This occurs when the gel of the vitreous humour “pulls” the retina off its underlying layers.
What are risk factors for retinal detachment? Often, a retinal detachment is unpredictable. However, there are some factors that may increase the chance of having a retinal detachment:
• Injury to the eye
• Eye surgery
• Older age
• Extreme nearsightedness
• Previous retinal detachment
• Family history of retinal detachment
• Certain eye and systemic diseases What are the symptoms of a retinal detachment? Common symptoms of a retinal detachment include:
• Flashes of light
• Floaters
• A sudden “curtain” over the eye
• Impaired vision Usually these symptoms start off mild, but get much worse over time. It is important to see a doctor if you believe you have a retinal detachment.
How is a retinal detachment treated? There are several methods for treating a retinal detachment. The ophthalmologist decides on the treatment based on the type of detachment, severity of detachment and characteristics of the patient.
Laser therapy or
cryotherapy can be used to treat holes of breaks in the retina. These techniques “glue” the retina back onto its underlying layers and help to avoid a significant retinal detachment.
A technique called
pneumatic retinopexy can be used to reattach the retina. This involves inserting gas into the eye that pushes the retina back up against the choroid.
Sometimes, surgery may be required to treat the retina detachment. A common surgery involves putting a “
scleral buckle” onto the back of the eye that pushes the underlying layers of the eye against the retina. Sometimes, a
vitrectomy may be performed; in this surgery, the vitreous humour of the eye is replaced. To read more about a vitrectomy, click
here.
Who treats a retinal detachment? A retinal detachment is treated by a retina surgeon. A retina surgeon is an ophthalmologist who has completed extra training in retina surgery.
