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Retinal Detachment
What is retinal detachment?
Retinal detachment is an emergency situation. The retina is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye. If the retina separates from the layer underneath, the person may start seeing bits of debris, called floaters, or flashes of light, or a shadow in the field of vision. Prompt medical treatment is required to save the vision in the eye.
Possible Causes of Retinal Detachment:
When the retina at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position, it is known as retinal detachment. Based on the type of detachment, the causes of this condition are:
- Rhegmatogenous detachments are caused by a tear in the retina that allows fluid to pass through. Ageing is the most common cause of this condition.
- In tractional detachment scar tissue grows on the retina's surface, causing the retina to pull away from the back of the eye. Diabetes is the primary cause of this condition.
- In exudative type of detachment, fluid accumulates beneath the retina. Inflammation in the eye, tumours, age-related macular degeneration are some of the causes.
Risk Factors of Retinal Detachment:
The following factors increase your risk of retinal detachment:
- Retinal detachment is seen more in people over age of fifty years.
- Earlier history of retinal detachment in one eye.
- Family history of retinal detachment.
- Extreme myopia, severe injury or previous eye surgery.
- Previous eye disease like retinoschisis, uveitis or thinning of the peripheral retina.
Signs and Symptoms of Retinal Detachment:
There are many warning signals to indicate that you have retinal detachment:
- Tiny specks or floaters may appear to drift in front of your eyes.
- Flashes of light in one or both eyes.
- Blurred vision and reduced peripheral vision.
- Darkening of your visual field.
Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment:
After understanding the signs and symptoms of retinal detachment from you, the eye specialist at Medcare may use the following tests and procedures for retinal detachment diagnosis:
- Retinal examination is done with special lenses to examine the back of your eye, including the retina to locate any retinal holes, tears or detachments.
- Ultrasound imaging is used if any bleeding happens in the eye.
Both eyes would be examined even if you have symptoms in just one.
Retinal Detachment Surgery & Treatment in Dubai & Sharjah:
At Medcare, you can get the bests surgical procedures for retinal detachment treatment:
- Photocoagulation means directing a laser beam into the eye through the pupil in order to attach the retina to the underlying tissue.
- Cryopexy involves applying a freezing probe to the outer surface of the eye to secure the retina to the eye wall.
Depending on the severity of the retinal detachment:
- In pneumatic retinopexy, the surgeon injects a bubble of air or gas into the vitreous cavity to stop the flow of fluid into the space behind the retina.
- In scleral buckling, the surgeon sutures a piece of silicone material to your sclera.
- In vitrectomy the surgeon removes the vitreous along with any tissue that is tugging on the retina. Air, gas or silicone oil is then injected into the vitreous space to help flatten the retina.
- Vitrectomy may be combined with a scleral buckling procedure.
Retinal Detachment FAQs:
Retinal Detachment FAQs:
Inclusions:
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What kind of trauma can lead to retinal detachment?
A: Retinal detachment causes the retina to separate from its underlying layer which contains blood vessels that provide oxygen and nourishment to the retina. Physical trauma like a blunt blow to the eye, severe eye injury or concussion of the head may cause retinal detachment and without timely treatment this condition leads to permanent loss of vision.
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What injuries typically cause retinal detachment?
A: Severe eye injuries, caused during a motor accident by the bursting of an airbag, chemical entering the eye in an industrial accident, being hurt by gun pellets in the eye or while playing high speed and high impact sports, may damage the structures at the back of the eye like the retina and optic nerve. These may cause a vitreous haemorrhage due to retinal tear resulting in a retinal detachment.
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Is there a way to prevent retinal detachment?
A: Nothing can be done to prevent retinal detachment other than regular eye check-ups. However, if you observe eye floaters, flashes of lights, blurred vision or gradual reduction in peripheral vision you may have to go in for a laser treatment or retinal detachment surgery.
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If one eye develops retinal detachment will the other develop it as well?
A: No, not in all cases. If only one eye suffers a serious injury or requires eye surgery then, the other eye will not develop a retinal detachment. However, if there is lattice degeneration in one eye, the risk of having it in the other eye increases which is associated with retinal detachment.
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What is the most common cause of retinal detachment?
A: The most common cause of retinal detachment is a tear or hole in the retina, which causes the liquid from inside the eyeball to seep through. Head trauma, old age, cataract surgery, extreme nearsightedness are all risk factors of having a retinal detachment.
Another less common cause of retinal detachment is tractional detachment. In this case, scar tissues or other tissues grow on your retina, causing it to pull away with time. It is more common in people with advanced diabetic eye diseases.
Retinal detachment is a serious condition and must be treated by a doctor at the earliest.
Need to get your retinal detachment treated in Dubai & Sharjah? Book an appointment with a Medcare Ophthalmologist today.
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Can a detached retina heal on its own?
A: Retinal detachment occurs when the retina of your eye gets pulled away from its normal position at the back of your eye. A detached retina cannot heal on its own and needs immediate medical aid.
If a detached retina is not treated at the earliest, it can cause vision loss either partially or sometimes even entirely. Treatment can be done through surgery, as recommended. So, if you are experiencing any floaters, blurry vision, or loss of vision, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist or seek medical help.
Concerned about the state of your retina? Book an appointment with a Medcare Ophthalmologist today.
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What are the warning signs of a detached retina?
A: Retinal detachment occurs when the retina leaves its normal position at the back of your eye and pulls away.
The warning signs of a detached retina include:
- The sudden appearance of floaters or specks in the eye
- Reduced or blurry vision
- Flashes of light in the eye - one or both
- A gradual reduction in your side vision and
- A curtain-like shadow over your field of vision
The longer you leave your retina untreated, the higher the risk of permanent vision loss will be. If you notice any of these warning signs, seek immediate medical aid.
Experiencing a combination of these signs? Book an appointment with a Medcare Ophthalmologist today for a consultation.
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How do you check for retinal detachment?
A: If you observe any symptoms of retinal detachment, such as blurred vision, you must visit an ophthalmologist who will perform different checks to confirm retinal detachment.
A few other signs which are indicative of a retinal detachment are tiny specks/floaters in the eye, reduction of side vision and a grey shadow over your field of vision.
At Medcare, we first carry out a retinal examination with the help of bright light and special lenses. This procedure let us examine the retina for any retinal holes, injury, tears, or detachments and prepare the treatment plan.
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. Book an appointment with a Medcare Ophthalmologist for successful treatment today.
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Can you go blind from a detached retina?
A: Complete or partial vision loss is very much possible in the case of retinal detachment if you do not get timely treatment. This happens because once the retina detaches, the retinal cells are left without oxygen and nutrients, which cause them to die off eventually.
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If you observe any symptoms associated with the condition, such as blurred vision, the sudden appearance of floaters, etc., then you must visit a qualified ophthalmologist at the earliest.
Fear you might be suffering from a detached retina? Don't take a chance; book an appointment with a Medcare Ophthalmologist today for a consultation.
