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Retinal Detachment
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Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment affects approximately 30,000 Americans yearly, and
without prompt treatment commonly leads to complete vision loss. Early
detection and treatment by an ophthalmologist is critical to preventing
severe vision loss and blindness.
What is Retinal Detachment?
The cause of retinal detachment is the leakage of vitreous liquid beneath
the retina. Age and other factors can cause a thinning of the retina,
causing small holes to develop and leak vitreous liquid, through these
holes or underneath the retina. As the liquid leaks and collects, the
surrounding areas of the retina can peel away from the choroid, the
underlying layer. When these areas detach from the retina, vision loss
results.
The choroid is a very thin layer of blood vessels that serves to supply
nutrients and oxygen to the retina. Ensuring that this layer is attached
to the retina is critical to maintaining vision.
Key to retinal detachment is the vitreous fluid found in the vitreous
cavity of the eye. The vitreous fluid, typically jelly-like, changes over
time, partly liquefying and shrinking. This can cause the vitreous to
separate from the retina's surface. Most aging eyes experience this
condition to some degree and typically it does not cause significant
problems. It often causes the appearance of floaters or flashes in the
field of vision, resulting from the shadows that the fluid creates on the
retina.
The presence of intense, sudden floaters can signal a serious problem. The
sagging vitreous can pull enough such that the retina tears, typically
along the periphery of the retina. These tears can cause retinal
detachment.
Vitreous liquid seeps underneath the retina from the open areas of the
tears. As the fluid collects, the surrounding areas of the retina peel
away from the choroid. The peeling areas expand over time, and loose their
ability to see. Critical in preventing the complete detachment of the
retina is early detection and treatment. Some retinal tears and holes
remain attached to the choroid, and swift treatment can prevent further
injury to the eye.
Are you at risk?
The risk of retinal detachment increase with age. With age, the vitreous
changes, becoming increasingly fluid like. Individuals who have
experienced retinal detachment in one eye are at increased risk of
developing a detached retina in the other eye. Those with a family history
of retinal detachment are also at increased risk.
Other risk factors include:
1) Nearsightedness
2) Causian
3) Male
4) Eye surgery
5) Weakness in the peripheral areas of the retina
Diagnosing Retinal Detachment
One or two tools are typically used to diagnose retinal attachment. Using
an ophthalmoscope, an eye doctor can closely examine the inside of the
eyes in detail, and can often see any small tears or holes in the retina.
In situations where the vitreous cavity interferes with complete view of
the retina, a doctor will typically employ ultrasonography to help get a
complete picture. Ultrasonography is painless, and uses sound waves to
image the retina on a monitor. This enables a doctor to clearly see the
state of the retina and all other structures inside the eye.
Retinal detachment can be a very serious eye condition and can cause
blindness. Early detection and treatment of retinal tears is critical to
preventing complete detachment of the retina.
Save up to 70% when you buy contacts and other vision products online!
Resources: Read about the different types of
retinal detachment. Understand the
difference between
retinal tears and retinal detachment.
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