What is Retinal Detachment?
The retina is a fragile tissue lining the back wall of the eye. The retina senses light and works to send a signal to the brain so that you can see. All of us need a healthy retina to be able to see clearly. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina detaches from its supporting tissue. It can lead to vision impairment if left untreated. Now, you may be curious about what does a detached retina look like. Well, it is neither possible nor accurate to detect it by yourself. However, a detached retina may appear wrinkled or displaced during an eye exam. Let’s dive deep into retinal detachment causes, types and symptoms, followed by treatment.
Types of Retinal Detachment
There are three types of retinal detachment:
- Rhegmatogenous type of retinal detachment is the most common type of retinal detachment. It occurs when a tear in the retina leads to fluid accumulation with a separation of the retina from the underlying epithelium layer.
- Exudative detachment happens when vascular abnormalities, injury, or inflammation cause fluid buildup under the retina.
- Tractional type of retinal detachment happens when scar tissue on the retina’s surface contracts and causes the retina to pull away.
Symptoms of Retinal Detachment
Now that we’ve covered what retinal detachment is and what some of the most common causes of retinal detachment are let’s look at the signs of a detached retina. These signs can be alarming and often require immediate medical attention. Some of the most common retina detachment symptoms include:
- Seeing flashing lights
- Experiencing sudden onset of floaters
- Loss of vision that resembles a curtain closing across your field of view.
Other signs and symptoms of retinal detachment might be straight lines that appear curved or twisted, a sense of heaviness in the eye, and patches of lost vision.
Retinal Detachment Causes
What Is The Most Common Cause Of Retinal Detachment?
The most common cause of retinal detachment is a retinal tear, which occurs when the vitreous gel in the eye pulls itself away from the retina. This pulling can create a tear, allowing fluid to seep behind the retina and separate it from the underlying tissue. However, several other factors can increase your risk of retinal detachment. These are:
- Ageing: The risk increases as you get older.
- Eye injury: Trauma to the eye can cause retinal detachment.
- Previous retinal detachment: Your risk is higher if you’ve had one before or have a family history.
- Eye surgeries: Past eye surgeries may contribute to an increased risk.
- Family history: If you have a family history of a non-traumatic detached retina, then it may indicate a genetic or inherited tendency to develop retinal detachments.
- A non-traumatic retinal detachment of one eye: In a few patients who suffer from a detached retina that is non-traumatic in one eye, detachment subsequently occurs in the other eye. For such patients, regular eye examinations must be done. If your eye exam is something you’ve been delaying for a long time, book your appointment with an eye specialist today.
- Diabetes: If a person who has diabetes develops diabetic retinopathy, then it can create a type of retinal detachment caused by pulling on the retina alone.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal Detachment in India
Surgery is the ultimate treatment of retinal detachment. Without retinal tear treatment, there is a risk that vitreoretinal traction or pulling won’t be sealed, which could lead to complete vision loss. Let’s look at the different types of retinal detachment treatments at Centre For Sight, India.
- Laser Surgery: This uses a laser beam directed through a contact lens or ophthalmoscope. The laser makes precise burns all around the retinal tear, creating scar tissue that closes the tear and prevents further detachment.
- Cryotherapy: This method applies extreme cold to the affected area, helping to reattach the retina to the eye’s wall by freezing the surrounding tissue.
- Scleral Buckling: In this approach, small silicone bands are sewn onto the sclera (the white part of the eye). Lasers or freezing techniques often promote tissue adhesion and support retina reattachment.
- Vitrectomy: In this procedure, the vitreous gel is removed from the eye and is replaced with a gas bubble or a silicone oil bubble. The bubble gently presses the retina back into place as the eye heals.
Complications Associated with Retinal Detachment Treatment
Although the success rate of this surgery is relatively high, a tiny percentage of people might need further surgery. The possible complications might include:
- Bruising of the eye or eyelids
- High pressure inside the eye
- Inflammation inside the eye
- Cataract
- Double vision
- Allergy to the medication used
- Infection in the eye (endophthalmitis) is very rare and can be prevented with the proper precautions after the surgery.
At Centre for Sight, our expert team of retina specialists are well-known across the country for their exceptional skills and surgical procedures.
FAQs
Can a detached retina heal naturally?
No, a detached retina can’t heal on its own. It needs medical attention, often through surgery, to prevent permanent vision loss.
Does retinal detachment happen suddenly?
Yes, retinal detachment can occur suddenly, often without warning, and is typically characterised by sudden vision changes like flashes of light or floaters.
What are the warning signs of a detached retina?
Warning signs and symptoms of retinal detachment include sudden flashes of light, floaters, blurred vision, or the sensation of a shadow or curtain closing over the visual field.
