Retinal detachment is a common condition people suffer from. There are many causes behind this eye problem which further leads to several risks and complications. In this article, we will give a short introduction to detached retina, signs of retinal detachment, causes, complications, treatment, and a lot more. Scroll down to read more!
What causes retinal detachment?
The detachment of retina is when the retina detaches or separates from the supporting tissue at the back of the eye. Symptoms include flashing lights and other vision changes. Inflammation, trauma, and structural changes can cause this. This is a medical emergency. The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive neurons. Everyone needs a healthy retina to see clearly. At first, the detachment may affect only a small part of the retina.
However, without treatment, the entire retina can detach and the person may lose vision in that eye. Retinal detachment or retinal detachment is a medical emergency. There are many factors that increase the risk of retinal detachment, including severe nearsightedness, diabetes, previous eye surgery, and trauma affecting the eye.
Symptoms
The most common retinal detachment symptoms are:
- Photopsia which includes short sudden light flashes in the peripheral vision upon eye movement.
- Increase in the debris creating transparent rods or bubbles in the field of vision.
- Shadow in the field of vision and the peripheral vision.
Causes
What is the most common cause of retinal detachment? Retinal detachment occurs when the part of the eye responsible for creating images moves away from the back of the eye. This can be due to trauma, inflammation, damage, or structural changes affecting the eye over time.
The retina is the layer of tissue inside the eye. It is sensitive to light and sends visual signals to the brain through the optic nerve. When the eye sees, light passes through the eye’s optical system and reaches the retina. This creates an image that the retina converts into nerve impulses that it sends to the brain via the optic nerve.
In other words, the image is focused on the retina, the nerve cells that process the information and send it as electrical impulses to the brain. Damage to the retina can affect a person’s ability to see. Retinal detachment occurs when this layer moves out of place.
Sometimes small tears in the retina can cause retinal detachment. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for vision. In retinal detachment, the macula may or may not detach. If so, the risk of central vision loss is higher.
Types of retinal detachment
There are three types of retinal detachment:
- Reconstructive retinal detachment
It is a rupture, tear, or perforation of the retina. This hole allows fluid to pass from the vitreous cavity to the space between the sensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. The pigment epithelium is the layer of pigment cells located just outside the sensory nerve retina.
- Secondary retinal detachment
Also known as exudative or serous retinal detachment, this condition occurs when fluid builds up under the retina due to inflammation, blood vessel problems, or injury. No holes, breaks, or tears.
- Traction retinal detachment
This is when injury, inflammation, or the formation of new blood vessels causes the vascular fibrous tissue to pull the sensory retina away from the retinal pigment epithelium.
Treatment
Surgery is often needed to detect retinal tears, seal them, and relieve any pulling or pulling. Without surgery, the risk of total vision loss is very high. The surgical options are:
- Scleral ring surgery
In the area where the retina is detached, the surgeon will attach a small strip of silicone rubber or a flexible sponge to the sclera, the outside of the white of the eye. This band pushes the sides of the eye toward the retina, making it easier to attach. They may use cryotherapy, called laser therapy to make other repairs. The doctor will use anesthesia to perform this surgery and perform the surgery in the operating room.
The expected results include:
- Eye soreness
- Avoid hard activities
- Need to use eye patch
- Pneumatic retinopexy
For uncomplicated retinal detachment, pneumatic retinopexy involves:
- Numbing the eye
- Removing eye fluid
- Injecting gas or air bubbles
- Using laser
Upon completion, you might see:
- Bubbles in the vision
- Keeping head in a particular position
- Avoiding heavy activities
- Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is the same as pneumatic retinopexy and includes:
- Numbing the eye
- Removing eye fluid
- Injecting gas or air bubbles
Outlook
The outlook for someone with a retinal detachment will depend on the reason for the detachment, the type of detachment, the extent of the damage, and whether the macula is still attached. If the macula is still attached, some statistics show that 83% of people will have 20/40 vision or better after treatment.
Otherwise, figures show that 37% of people will regain 20/50 vision if they have surgery within the first week. In about 8-10% of cases, repair will fail due to proliferative retinopathy. This is scarring that happens as additional cells form and develop unwanted membranes as the body attempts to save the retina. The membranes can contract, causing the retina to shrink and pull away again from the back of the eye.
Risk factors
The most common risk factors of retinal detachment are:
- Male gender
- History of eye surgery
- Injury to eye
- Eye cancer
- Pre-eclampsia
- Eye conditions like lattice degeneration or retinopathy
- Genetics
- Extreme eye sightedness
- Diabetes
- Infectious diseases
Conclusion
This was all about retinal detachment you should know. Hopefully, now you know the symptoms of a detached retina, its causes, treatments, and much more. In case you have any other questions drop them down in the comment section below.
FAQs
How long before retinal detachment causes blindness?
A detached retina might cause blindness in less than a week if the symptoms are very severe and left untreated.
How much does surgery cost?
The cost of surgery for retinal detachment depends on the type of procedure and where the surgery takes place. Attending regular eyesight tests can help to reduce the risk of retinal detachment, as eye exams can sometimes detect eye conditions such as detached retina in the early stages.
What is the diagnosis of retinal detachment?
If a doctor suspects retinal detachment, they will usually refer the person to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for an accurate diagnosis. The ophthalmologist will examine the eyes after dilating or widening the pupils with eye drops. They may also perform imaging tests for more details, such as ultrasound or optical coherence tomography.
