What is Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin membrane that covers the back of the eye (retina) separates (detaches) from the eyeball. This causes vision loss. Vision loss may range from blurriness or cloudiness to complete blindness.

Sometimes vision improves or returns after treatment. It is important to get treatment for retinal detachment as soon as possible.

There are 3 types of retinal detachment:

• Rhegmatogenous. This type:
  • Is most common.
  • Happens when a tear in the retina lets fluid into the area behind the retina.
  • Causes the retina to detach from the layer of cells that is under it (retinal pigment epithelium, RPE).
• Tractional. This type:
  • Happens when scar tissue on the surface of the retina tightens (contracts).
  • Causes the retina to detach from its base.
• Exudative. This type happens when a disorder or an injury causes fluid to leak into the area behind the retina.

What are the causes?

Retinal detachment may be caused by:

• Holes or tears in the retina.
• Eye injury.
• Certain diseases, including diabetes.
• Other eye conditions, such as nearsightedness (myopia) or myopia that worsens (degenerative myopia).

What increases the risk?

You are more likely to develop this condition if you:

• Have a family history of retinal detachment.
• Are age 40 or older.
• Are male.
• Have a history of:
  • Cataract surgery.
  • Eye injury.
  • Retinal detachment.
• Are nearsighted.
• Have diabetes.
• Have high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Have certain other eye problems.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of retinal detachment include:

• Seeing flashes of light.
• Seeing shapes (floaters) in front of your eye that may look like wavy lines or cobwebs.
• Having blurry vision.
• Seeing a floating empty circle in front of you.
• Vision loss. This may:
  • Be partial or complete.
  • Be temporary or permanent.
  • Affect central vision, side (peripheral) vision, or both. Loss of central vision is more likely to be permanent than a loss of peripheral vision is.
  • Look as if a curtain is blocking part of your vision.

If you develop symptoms of retinal detachment, you should see an eye care provider as soon as possible, ideally within 12–24 hours.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• Your symptoms and medical history.
• An eye exam that is done by a health care provider who specializes in eye conditions (ophthalmologist).
• Various tests of your vision and eye health.
• Imaging of the eye, including ultrasound.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition may include:

• Using a focused beam of energy to seal the tear or hole in the retina (laser treatment). If your retina has only a small tear or hole and has not completely detached, this may be the only treatment that you need.
• Freezing the area around the tear or hole in the retina (cryopexy). This helps to reattach the retina to the surface of the eyeball.
• Surgery to place a small band (scleral buckle) on the eyeball. The scleral buckle pushes the eyeball against the retina so that the retina can be reattached with laser treatment or cryopexy.
• Surgery to remove the gel that is inside the white of the eye (vitrectomy). Gas is injected into the white of the eye (sclera) to push the eyeball back against the retina (pneumatic retinopexy). Then, the retina can be reattached with laser treatment or cryopexy.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Do not drive or use heavy machinery until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Wear eye protection as needed, such as while using heavy machinery or playing sports.
• If you have diabetes, work with your health care provider to manage your blood sugar (glucose) and blood pressure. High blood glucose and high blood pressure can cause damage to your eyes, which may lead to retinal detachment.
• Get an eye exam one or more times a year.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your vision is not improving as your health care provider said you could expect.
• Your vision gets worse.

Get help right away if:

• You suddenly see flashing lights or floaters.
• You suddenly have a dark area in your field of vision, especially in the lower part. This can lead to a loss of central vision.

Summary

• Retinal detachment occurs when the thin membrane that covers the back of the eye (retina) separates (detaches) from the eyeball. This condition causes vision loss.
• Retinal detachment is uncommon, but it can cause permanent loss of vision.
• If you develop symptoms of a retinal detachment, you should see an eye care provider as soon as possible, ideally within 12–24 hours.
• Treatment may include laser treatment, freezing the area around the tear or hole in the retina (cryopexy), or surgery.