What is this condition?

Retinal detachment occurs when the layers of the retina become separated, creating a subretinal space that then fills with subretinal fluid Retinal detachment usually involves only one eye, but it may involve the other eye later.

Surgical reattachment treatment is often successful. However, the prognosis for good vision depends on the area of the retina that’s affected.

What causes it?

Any breach of the retina allows the liquid vitreous humor of the eye­ball to seep between the retinal layers, separating the retina from it’s blood supply. In adults, retinal detachment usually results from age­related degenerative changes, which cause a spontaneous retinal­opening.

Predisposing factors include nearsightedness, cataract surgery, tumors, systemic diseases, and traumatic injury. The influence of traumatic injury may explain why retinal detachment is twice as com­mon in males. Retinal detachment is rare in children.

What are its symptoms?

Initially, the person may complain of floating spots and recurrent flashes of light. But as detachment progresses, gradual, painless vision loss occurs. This vision loss may be described as a veil, curtain, or cobweb effect that eliminates a portion of the visual field.

How is it diagnosed?

Ophthalmoscopy reveals the usually transparent retina as gray and opaque; in severe detachment, it reveals folds in the retina and ballooning out of the area.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on the location and severity of the detachment. It may include restricting eye movements and positioning the person’s head so that the tear or hole lies below the rest of the eye. Retinal detachment usually requires scleral buckling to reattach the retina and, possibly, replacement of the vitreous humor with silicone, oil, air, or gas. A hole in the peripheral retina can be treated with cryothermy; in the posterior portion, with laser therapy.

What can a person with retinal detachment do?

  • Learn the proper method for instilling eyedrops.
  • Be sure to comply with prescribed therapy and follow-up care.
  • Wear dark glasses to compensate for light sensitivity.