Retinal Tear or Detachment

What is a retinal tear or detachment?

Retinal tear or detachment (RD) is an eye condition in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. It is similar to wallpaper peeling off a wall.

Most retinal detachments are the result of a retinal break, hole or tear. These tears occur when the vitreous gel pulls loose or separates from its attachment to the retina, usually in the peripheral parts of the retina. The vitreous gel may tug on the retina with enough force to create a retinal tear, allowing the fluid from the vitreous cavity to pass through the tear into the space behind the retina and therefore detaching the retina.

If not promptly treated, it can lead to blindness.

Who is at risk?

The risk of RD in normal eyes is around 5 in 100,000 per year.

The risk is increased in:

• Older people over 60 years

• Severely short-sighted (myopic) people

• People who have had previous cataract surgery

• People who have had previous eye surgery or injuries to the eye

• People with a family history of retinal detachment

What are the symptoms?

• Floaters or black spots, cobwebs or squiggly lines

• Flashes like bright sparkles of lightning

• Progressive loss of vision field that looks like shadow or curtain blocking the vision, usually coming from the side

What are the available treatments?

Retinal Tears can be treated with Thermal Laser  to seal the retina by placing a barrier around the tear, so that fluid cannot track under the retina and peel it off.

Retinal Detachment can be treated with the following:

• Scleral buckling

• Pneumatic retinopexy

• Cryotherapy

• Indirect Thermal

• Vitrectomy Surgery