What is the retina?
The retina is a nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain. If you think of the eye as a camera, then the retina is like the film that lines the back of the camera.
What is a retinal detachment?
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina is pulled from its normal position. The retina does not work when it is detached. Vision is blurred in that area that is detached, like if the film were loose inside the camera. A retinal detachment is quite serious, and will almost always lead to blindness if not treated.
What causes a retinal detachment?
The most common cause is after separation of the vitreous layer. The vitreous is a clear gel that fills the inside of the back of the eye. As we all get older, the vitreous shrinks and may pull away from its attachment to the retina. This usually happens without a problem, 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.
A large retinal tear is seen above.
There are other conditions that can increase the chance of a retinal detachment:
What are the warning symptoms of a retinal detachment?
Early symptoms that may indicate the presence of a retinal detachment:
These symptoms do not always mean a retinal detachment is present; however, you should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible. A retinal detachment can be determined during an eye examination where the pupils are dilated (enlarged).
What treatment is needed?
Retinal tears: Most can be treated with laser surgery or cryotherapy (freezing), which seals the retina to the back wall of the eye. These can usually be done in the doctor's office.
Retinal detachment: Almost all patients with retinal detachments will require surgery to put the retina back into position.
Will your vision improve after retinal detachment?
Vision may take many months to improve and in some cases may never return fully. Unfortunately, some patients do not recover any vision. The more severe the detachment, the less vision may return. For this reason, it is very important to see your ophthalmologist at the first sign of any trouble.