The human eye is a remarkable instrument, and at the core of that instrument lies the retina. This is a delicate layer of tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into the images we perceive.
But when this vital layer begins to peel away from the wall of the eye, like wallpaper coming loose, this is known as a retinal detachment.
Retinal detachments are very serious and need to be addressed urgently, or patients may risk losing vision permanently.
Today, we’ll go over all you need to know about it, from the types of retinal detachment to the common retinal detachment causes and symptoms.
First, it may be worth noting the most commonly noted risk factors for this condition. Some of these risk factors are associated strongly with a specific type of detachment, as we’ll show later:
There are several types of retinal detachments, but the most common type which most people refer to, is known as the rhegmatogeonus type. Other types include tractional and exudative.
We’ll discuss each type of detachment below.
This is the most common type of retinal detachment, and the one that needs urgent surgery as soon as it is identified.
This type of retinal detachment is caused by a tear or break in the retina. The tear allows the fluid in the vitreous cavity (the ‘compartment’ in the back of the eye) to pass through the retina.
This fluid can then accumulate underneath the retina, creating a bulge between it and the tissue behind it. This is the start of the process of retinal detachment.
As more and more fluid accumulates, the retina detaches further. Eventually, it can detach to the point where it clearly begins to affect the central vision of the eye.
This retinal detachment happens when you get scar tissue on your retina and the scars grow thick enough to forcefully pull your retina away from the wall of the eye.
This is more commonly seen in patients with conditions such as diabetes. Severe trauma to the eye is another of the major risk factors for it, for obvious reasons.
If you wonder why diabetes can lead to scarring in the eye, it’s because long periods of elevated blood sugar levels can cause damage to the eye’s blood vessels.This damage then causes the scarring that leads to detachment.
This type of retinal detachment usually happens in patients with inflammation in the eye, as in uveitis.
This differs from the rhegmatogenous type of detachment in the fact that there’s no tear in the retina itself. At the same time, it differs from tractional detachment because there is no scar tissue pulling on the retina.
In this type of detachment, inflammation in the eye causes leakage from the blood vessels,
or impairs the function of the cells to pump fluid away from the space under the retina. Treatment for this kind of detachment does not involve surgery but usually medical therapy.
Retinal detachments are painless, but they are very serious nonetheless. Indeed, every retinal detachment ranks as a medical emergency because if untreated, they can lead to permanent vision loss.
This is because most retinal detachments worsen over time. They usually tend to start in the peripheral retina before progressing toward the central retina (the macula).
Once the central retina is affected, the loss in vision usually becomes very obvious and significant. However, by that time, treatment may also be more difficult.
This means it is vital to treat retinal detachments as soon as they appear. The question is whether we can pick up symptoms to detect a retinal detachment when it is still early, or even before it happens (when it is still at the stage of being a retinal break).
First, it bears noting that each case is unique. Some people experience a whole host of symptoms when they get a detached retina while others do not at all.
Severity plays a role here as well. The more serious your retinal detachment is – or the bigger the portion of retina detached – the more likely you are to develop noticeable symptoms.
Below are the more common symptoms that people with retinal detachment will notice. Take note that you may experience one, a few, or even all of these if you have the condition:
The presence of these symptoms does not guarantee that you have retinal detachment, however, just as their absence doesn’t guarantee the absence of that condition as well. It’s still best to seek the opinion of an eye doctor for certainty.
Most retinal detachments can be treated if found early enough. The exact treatment used will depend on the severity of the detachment as well as the patient’s eye health.
For example, a doctor may recommend a pneumatic retinopexy in one case and a different procedure (like a vitrectomy) in another. Both have similarities – such as the use of a gas bubble – but a doctor will be best placed to determine which is better for a particular situation.
If you want to learn more about the potential treatments for retinal detachment, we have another article on that topic.
Now that you know the meaning, causes, and symptoms of retinal detachment, it is time to evaluate whether or not you may be suffering from it. As noted above, the presence or absence of the symptoms listed isn’t a confirmation, however.
That’s why the only certainty can come from getting assessed by a professional. For example, here at Shinagawa Eye Centre, we can perform various tests to check for retinal detachment and other eye issues.
More importantly, we can come up with a treatment plan as soon as possible. This can help you prevent the vision loss that tends to come from retinal detachment worsening.
Call us to enquire or book an appointment for retinal detachment assessment and treatment as soon as possible.