Retinal Detachment

A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from the underlying layers of the eye wall.  The retina is the thin layer of tissue that retains the vision cells in the back of the eye—think of it as the film inside a camera. The image that one sees is focused by the lens and cornea in the front of the eye and then cast upon the center of the retina (macula) in the back of the eye.

Over time, retinal detachment will lead to progressive loss of peripheral and, eventually, central vision.  Left untreated, total and permanent loss of sight eventually occurs in most cases.

Retinal Detachment Causes and Associations

A rhegmatogenous type of retinal detachment is caused by a break, tear or hole in the retina, allowing fluid from the vitreous cavity of the eye to track under the retina, detaching it from the eye wall.  “Rhegma” is Greek for rent or break. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is the most common type of retinal detachment.

Retinal tears and associated detachments of the retina are often spontaneous and unpredictable events.  While detachment can arise following trauma, it is usually caused by separation of the vitreous gel from the retina.  Over time as we age, the vitreous gel liquefies. It eventually collapses upon itself and separates from the surface of the retina (posterior vitreous detachment).  During or shortly after this event, a retinal tear can occur as a result of the gel pulling on the thin retinal tissue.

Risk factors for developing retinal tears and detachment include myopia (near-sightedness), particularly thin patches within the peripheral retina (lattice degeneration), family history, previous eye surgery, and trauma.

Retinal Tear and Detachment Symptoms

The rate of progression of a retinal detachment can vary from days to weeks depending on many factors such as patient age as well as the size and the number of retinal tears.

Symptoms of vitreous detachment, retinal tear, and retinal detachment may coexist and include:

• Sudden onset of floaters (mobile blackspots or cobwebs in the vision)
• Sudden onset of flashing lights in vision
  Blurred vision
  Gradual loss of peripheral vision in the form of a shadow, curtain, or cloud (this corresponds to the retina detaching.)

Examination

A comprehensive ophthalmic examination is essential to diagnose and treat a retinal detachment. Through a dilated pupil, the ophthalmologist will see one or more tears in the retina with varying amounts of underlying fluid. There may also be some degree of vitreous hemorrhage, which occurs when a retinal tear involves a retinal blood vessel.

Prognosis

Retinal detachments often cause some degree of permanent visual field or central visual acuity loss, even after successful reattachment. Final visual outcomes are best if the detachment is detected and treated before it involves the center of the retina (macula). A change of eyeglasses after retinal detachment surgery may or may not improve vision. Longstanding retinal detachments or those with associated scar tissue (proliferative vitreoretinopathy) typically have a poor visual prognosis.

Treatment and How to Prevent Retinal Detachment

If a retinal hole or tear is detected before there is retinal detachment, laser or cryotherapy (freezing treatment) to the retinal tear is often successful in sealing the retinal defect, preventing a retinal detachment.  However, if a retinal detachment has already developed, a retinal reattachment procedure is typically necessary.