Detached Retina (Retinal Detachment)

(Retinal Detachment)

Definition

A detached retina occurs when the retina is pulled or falls away from its normal position. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye [2]. It converts visual images into nerve impulses in the brain [3] that allow us to see.

Detached Retina

Nucleus factsheet image

Causes

Many factors can cause retinal detachment. These include:

Eye trauma—damage from blunt or penetrating injuries to the eye [2], which may be caused by:
- Sports-related activities
- Blunt trauma
- Flying objects
- Car accidents
Severe nearsightedness [4] —This causes an unusually elongated eyeball, which can lead to increased risk for retinal detachment.
Cataract surgery [5] —This and many other types of eye [2] surgery can increase the risk of retinal detachment.
Scar tissue in the eye [2], especially if it contracts
Tumors in the eye [2]
Certain other eye [2] and medical [6] disorders

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for retinal detachment include:

Increasing age—With age, changes occur in the eye [2] that can lead to an increased risk of retinal detachment.
Previous retinal detachment in the same or other eye [2]
Severe nearsightedness
Family members with retinal detachment
Holes or tears in the retina
Trauma

Symptoms

Retinal detachment is painless. However, if it is not treated quickly, a detached retina can cause permanent, partial, or total vision [2] loss. If you have any of these symptoms, contact an eye [2] doctor immediately:

Sudden appearance or increase in the number of “floaters,” which are shapes that float in the eye [2] and are seen in the field of vision [2]
Brief flashes of light in the eye [2]
Loss of the eye’s central or peripheral field of vision [2]
A curtain appears to fall over part of the visual field
Sudden changes or blurring of vision [2]

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical [6] history, and perform a thorough eye [2] exam. Tests may include:

Eye exam—The pupil is dilated with eye [2] drops, and the inside of the eye [2] is examined with a lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope.
Ultrasound—The doctor uses sound waves to examine the eye [2].

Treatment

Treatments may include:

Non-surgical Procedures

Cryotherapy (or cryoretinopexy)—A freezing probe is used to seal the retina back into its normal position.
Diathermy—Heat is used to seal the retina back into its normal position.
Laser retinopexy—A laser is used to make tiny burns around the area of detachment. This seals down the surrounding retina often preventing further detachment.
Pneumatic retinopexy—A special type of gas bubble is injected into the eye [2]. The gas bubble pushes the retina back into place.

All of these procedures are often combined with other procedures or surgeries.

Surgical Procedures

Vitrectomy—the surgical removal of vitreous fluid that is pulling on the retina and causing detachment
Scleral buckle—the surgical placement of a flexible band around the eye [2]

Prevention

To help prevent retinal detachment, do the following:

Always wear protective eyewear or goggles when participating in:
- Contact sports
- Activities that involve flying objects
- Any other potentially dangerous activity where the eye [2] can get injured
Have regular eye [2] exams at least once a year if you are at risk. Depending on your age and risk factors, you may need to see the eye [2] doctor more often.
Contact an eye [2] doctor immediately if you have:
- An eye [2] injury
- Any symptoms of retinal detachment, such as flashing lights, floating objects, loss of part of your peripheral vision [2], or any other change in vision [2]

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org [7]

National Eye Institute
http://www.nei.nih.gov [8]

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Association of Optometrists
http://www.opto.ca/en/public/ [9]

Canadian Health Network
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/ [10]

References:

American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: http://www.aao.org [11] .

The Merck Manual of Medical Information . Simon and Schuster, Inc.; 2000.

National Eye Institute website. Available at: http://www.nei.nih.gov [12] .

Last reviewed October 2007 by Marc Ellman, MD [13]

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical [6] advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health [14] provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical [6] condition.