What is retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment is a term used to describe a condition or disease in which the retina and the light-sensitive sensory cells of the eye have detached from their original substrate. Retinal detachment causes a loss of vision, and if left untreated, it will spread to more central areas of the eye. Many patients with retinal detachment describe it as a curtain being drawn across part of their field of vision. If left untreated and allowed to spread, it will eventually affect the patient’s ability to see clearly.

Why do people get retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment typically occurs in the older part of the population, and there is a good explanation for this. The most common cause of retinal detachment is what is known as vitreous collapse. The eye’s “vitreous body” is a transparent structure/layer that fills the interior of the eye and, in young people, has the consistency of a firm gel. This vitreous body helps to support the retina and ensure that light can reach it. However, with age, the vitreous body becomes more fluid and therefore gradually shrinks, eventually falling completely. This can result in a hole in the retina, and if fluid seeps through this hole, the retina will gradually detach and damage vision. The risk of retinal detachment is particularly high in people who are very nearsighted, and can also occur after accidents (eye trauma).

Can you have surgery for retinal detachment?

In most cases, the answer is yes. The goal of surgery for retinal detachment is to get the retina back to where it should be, and like with all other eye diseases, you’ve got a better chance of keeping your vision if you get treated early. Retinal detachment is treated with surgery, which involves the use of lasers and other techniques to reattach the retina. This surgery is successful in 85-90% of cases, so there is a very good chance of treating retinal detachment if it is detected early enough. It is particularly important that treatment is provided before the central part of the retina (the yellow spot, fovea) detaches.

How is retinal detachment detected?

Since the most common cause of retinal detachment is vitreous collapse, people with this condition describe it as feeling like a curtain slowly being drawn across their field of vision. This is because the vitreous becomes fluid and is no longer in its proper place. In addition, people with early retinal detachment experience blurred vision, multiple flashes of light, and small black dots that resemble flying mosquitoes. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor, who can refer you to an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist can make a diagnosis by examining the retina and its position.

Who gets retinal detachment?

Although retinal detachment typically occurs in older people, whose vitreous humor has become more fluid, it can occur at any age. Retinal detachment is not a common eye disease – quite the contrary. It is very rare, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people annually.