Retinal Detachment Treatment | Retinal Detachment Surgery

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is an emergency situation in which a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position. Retinal detachment separates the retinal cells from the layer of blood vessels that provides oxygen and nourishment. A break may be initially localized but without rapid treatment, the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and blindness.

Symptoms:

Starts with flashes and floaters that drift through your field of vision
Increase or sudden appearance of flashes
Blurred vision
Gradually reduced side or peripheral visio
A curtain like shadow over your visual field - this is considered as an emergency and one should see a doctor immediately.

Causes

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Rhegmatogenous :
These are the most common. Rhegmatogenous detachments are caused by a hole or a tear in the reina that allows fluid to pass through and collect underneath the retina thus pulling the retina away from the underlying tissues.

Tractional :
This type of detachment occurs when a scar tissue grows on the reinas surface causing the retina to pull away from the back of the eye. Tractional detachment is typically seen in people who have poorly controlled diabetes.

Exudative :
In an exudative detachment, fluid accumulates beneath the retina, but there are no holes or tears in the retina. This detachment can be caused by age related macular degeneration, injury to the eye, tumors or some inflammatory disorders.

Treatment

There are several methods of treating a detached retina:

Cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation:
Used to create a scar or an adhesion around the retinal hole to prevent fluid from entering the hole and increasing the detachment.

Pneumatic retinopexy:
Injecting a bubble of air or gas into the center of the eye. This bubble pushes the area of the retina containing the hole or holes against the retina to stop allowing the flow of fluid.

Scleral buckling:
This procedure involves the surgeon suturing a piece of silicone material to the white scleral part of your eye over the affected area. The buckle generally stays in place permanently securing your retina.

Vitrectomy:
The surgeon removes the vitreous along with any tissue that is tugging on the retina. The surgeon. An air, gas or silicone oil is then injected into the vitreous space to flatten the retina. This air, gas or liquid will be absorbed and the vitreous space will refill with the body's natural fluid.

What is Retinal Detachment?

Vission Tip: Incase you have any floaters or flashes, please visit your doctor on a regular basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common symptoms of retinal detachment include sudden flashes of light, floaters (small spots or threads in vision), blurred vision, reduced side vision, or a shadow/curtain appearing over part of the eye. Retinal detachment is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.

Retinal detachment can occur due to ageing, eye injuries, severe nearsightedness (myopia), diabetes, previous eye surgery, or retinal tears. In some cases, fluid builds up behind the retina and causes it to separate from its normal position.

Mild retinal tears may sometimes be treated with laser procedures, but most retinal detachment cases require surgery to prevent permanent vision loss. Treatment options may include retinal laser treatment, vitrectomy, or other retinal procedures recommended by a retina specialist.

Vision recovery depends on how quickly the condition is treated and the severity of the detachment. Early diagnosis and prompt retinal detachment surgery improve the chances of restoring vision and preventing permanent blindness.

Retinal Detachment