Retinal Detachment Information
What is retinal detachment?
The
retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue
that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual
messages through the
optic nerve to the brain. When
the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its
normal position. If not promptly treated, retinal
detachment can cause permanent vision loss.
In some cases there may be small areas of the
retina that are torn. These areas, called retinal
tears or retinal breaks, can lead to retinal
detachment.
What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?
Symptoms include a sudden or gradual increase in
the number of floaters and/or light flashes in the
eye or the appearance of a curtain over the field of
vision. A retinal detachment is a medical
emergency. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of a
retinal detachment should see an eye care
professional immediately.
What are the different types of retinal
detachment?
There are three different types of retinal
detachment:
Rhegmatogenous [reg-ma-TAH-jenous] --
A tear or break in the retina causes it to
separate from the
retinal pigment epithelium (RPE),
the pigmented cell layer that nourishes the
retina, and fill with fluid. These types of
retinal detachments are the most common.
Tractional -- In this type of
detachment, scar tissue on the retina's surface
contracts and causes it to separate from the RPE.
This type of detachment is less common.
Exudative -- Frequently caused by
retinal diseases, including inflammatory
disorders and injury/trauma to the eye. In this
type, fluid leaks into the area underneath the
retina (subretina).
Who is at risk for retinal detachment?
Although anyone can experience a retinal
detachment, people with certain eye conditions are
at increased risk. Some examples of these conditions
include posterior vitreous detachment,
lattice
degeneration, x-linked retinoschisis, degenerative
myopia, and
uveitis. Injuries to the eye or head can
also cause retinal detachment.
How is retinal detachment treated?
Small holes and tears are treated with laser
surgery or a freeze treatment called cryopexy. These
procedures are usually performed in the doctor's
office. During laser surgery tiny burns are made
around the hole to "weld" the retina back to into
place. Cryopexy is a similar procedure that freezes
the area around the hole.
Retinal detachments are treated with surgery that
may require the patient to stay in the hospital. In
some cases a scleral buckle, a tiny synthetic band,
is attached to the outside of the eyeball to gently
push the wall of the eye against the
detached
retina. If necessary, a
vitrectomy may also be
performed to treat more severe cases.
During a
vitrectomy, the doctor makes a tiny incision in the
sclera (white of the eye). Next, a small instrument
is placed into the eye to remove the
vitreous. Salt
solution is then injected to into the eye to replace
the vitreous.
Early treatment can usually improve the
visual acuity of
most patients with retinal detachment. Some
patients, however, will need more than one procedure
to repair the damage.
National Eye Institute-Supported Research:
The NEI supported
The Silicone Study, a nationwide clinical
trial that compared the use of silicone oil and
long-acting intraocular gas for repairing retinal
detachment complicated by proliferative
vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Results indicate that
silicone is slightly more effective than gas in
reattaching retinas with no previous vitrectomy
(surgical removal of the vitreous gel).
Other Resources
The following organization may be able to provide
additional information on retinal detachment:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
P.O. Box 7424
San Francisco, CA 94109-7424
(415) 561-8500
http://www.aao.org
Publishes a patient brochure entitled Detached
and Torn Retina.
For additional information, you may also wish to
contact a local library.
See also...
Vitrectomy
surgery
Vitrectomy Surgery Animation
Interactive Eye Anatomy Animation
Courtesy of the National Eye Institute
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