Retinal Detachment Information and Treatment
Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue on the inner surface of your eye. Light that enters your eye hits your retina and sends impulses to your brain through the optic nerve.
Retinal detachment occurs when the retina is pulled away from the cell layer that nourishes it. The retina may detach completely or tear in small areas and lead to complete detachment.
There are three main types of retinal detachment:
- Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment occurs when fluid leaks through a hole in the retina and flows under it, separating the retina from the cell layer that nourishes it
- Tractional Retinal Detachment occurs when scar tissue on the retina contracts and separates from the cell layer that nourishes it
- Exudative Retinal Detachment occurs when fluid leaks into the area under the retina but does not cause retinal tears (often associated with retinal diseases and trauma to the eyes)
Retinal Detachment Symptoms and Risk Factors
Symptoms of retinal detachment may include:
- Floaters (the appearance of light flashes or a "curtain" over your field of vision) and the sudden increase in the number of floaters
- A ring of floaters on the outside of your vision
- Brief flashes of light in your peripheral vision
- Eye pain or a feeling that your eye is heavy
Anyone is at risk for retinal detachment, but you have a higher risk if:
- You are a Caucasian male over age 40
- You are extremely nearsighted
- You have a personal or family history of retinal detachment
- You have had cataract surgery, other eye diseases, or eye injuries
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If you know or think you have retinal detachment, contact us immediately. If you are at risk for the condition, or if you are experiencing symptoms, request an appointment with us right away.
Retinal Detachment Treatment
In most cases, retinal detachment can be successfully treated. Some treatments require a brief hospital stay. Our board-certified ophthalmologists are also trained surgeons. At Northwest Eye, you stay with the clinic and doctor you know and trust for all your eye care needs.
Treatment options include:
- Laser surgery - a laser treatment that helps "weld" the retina back in place by making tiny burns around the retinal tear
- Cryopexy - a freeze treatment that helps reattach the retina by freezing the area around the retinal tear
- Vitrectomy - a surgical treatment that involves replacing the gel-like substance in the eye with gas, which creates pressure that holds the retina in place
- Scleral buckle - the surgical placement of a scleral buckle (a tiny synthetic band) that gently holds the eyeball and the detached retina together
Treatment outcomes are not always predictable and subsequent treatments may be necessary. If your condition requires additional attention, our ophthalmologists will help you understand your options and work with you to restore your vision. If you think you have retinal detachment, contact us immediately to meet with one of our ophthalmologists.