A detached retina occurs when the retina is pulled or falls away from its normal position. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. It converts visual images into nerve impulses in the brain that allow us to see.

Causes

Many factors can cause retinal detachment. These include:

• Eye trauma – damage from blunt or penetrating injuries to the eye, which may be caused by:

• • Sports-related activities

• • Blunt trauma

• • Flying objects

• • Car accidents

• Severe nearsightedness – This causes an unusually elongated eyeball, which can lead to increased risk for retinal detachment

• Cataract surgery – This and many other types of eye surgery can increase the risk of retinal detachment due to:

• • Postoperative scar tissue

• • Changes in the vitreous fluid

• Scar tissue in the eye, especially if it contracts

• Tumors in the eye

• Certain other eye and medical disorders

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for retinal detachment include:

• Increasing age – With age, changes occur in the eye that can lead to an increased risk of retinal detachment.

• Previous retinal detachment in the same or other eye

• Severe nearsightedness

• Family members with retinal detachment

• Holes or tears in the retina

Symptoms

Retinal detachment is painless. However, if it is not treated quickly, a detached retina can cause permanent, partial, or total vision loss. If you have any of these symptoms, contact an eye doctor immediately:

• Sudden appearance or increase in the number of “floaters,” which are shapes that float in the eye and are seen in the field of vision

• Brief flashes of light in the eye

• Loss of the eye’s central or peripheral field of vision

• A curtain appears to fall over part of the visual field

• Sudden changes or blurring of vision

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a thorough eye exam. Tests may include:

• Eye Exam – The pupil is dilated with eye drops, and the inside of the eye is examined with a lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope

• Ultrasound – The doctor uses sound waves to examine the eye.

Treatment

Treatments may include:

Prevention

To help prevent retinal detachment, do the following:

• Always wear protective eyewear or goggles when:

• • Participating in contact sports

• • Participating in activities that involve flying objects

• • Participating in any other potentially dangerous activity where the eye can get injured

• If you have diabetes, try to maintain:

• • Blood sugar levels as normal as possible

• • A steady blood pressure, avoiding large swings between highs and lows

• Have regular eye exams, at least once a year if you are at risk. Depending on your age and risk factors, you may need to see the eye doctor more often.

• Contact an eye doctor immediately if you have:

• • An eye injury

• • Any symptoms of retinal detachment

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org

National Eye Institute
http://www.nei.nih.gov

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
http://www.niddk.nih.gov

References:

American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: http://www.aao.org.

National Eye Institute website. Available at: http://www.nei.nih.gov.

The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Simon and Schuster, Inc.; 2000.