Retinal Detachment
Treatment
What is Retinal Detachment?
Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from the back of the eye and is a medical emergency. Without urgent surgery, sight will be lost permanently. The retina is a transparent layer of nerve tissue at the back of the eye. It is probably the most important structure in your eye because it converts what you see into electrical impulses to your brain.
Retinal Hole Causes Retinal Detachment
The vitreous is a transparent jelly like structure inside the eye that is attached to the retina. As you get older, this vitreous jelly degenerates and pulls away from the retina. Sometimes, this can cause a hole in the retina. The hole allows fluid to enter underneath the retina and causes it to detach. This is like wallpaper coming off the wall when it is loose. Most eye doctors would treat the retinal hole with laser to prevent development of retinal detachment.
Risk Factor of Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment occurs in less than 1 in 10000 people.
1. More common in people with myopia
2. Who have had previous eye trauma
3. Complicated cataract surgery
4. More common in the older age group compared to children.
Symptoms of Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment occurs in less than 1 in 10000 people.
- Black spots in your field of vision
- Flashing lights
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Total loss of vision.
A retinal detachment normally starts in the corner of your eye and you will notice a shadow your periphery at first. As it progresses towards the center of your eye, the macula, you finally lose your central vision.
Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment
The diagnosis can be made by an eye doctor who examines the back of your eye with an ophthalmoscope. There are no specific tests for retinal detachment. The diagnosis is quite straightforward and there is usually no doubt about it.
