👁️ Retinal Detachment – Overview
Retinal detachment is a serious eye condition where the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) pulls away from its normal position. This can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated quickly.
⚙️ Causes
- Tear or hole in the retina allowing fluid to seep underneath (rhegmatogenous detachment)
- Traction from scar tissue pulling the retina (tractional detachment)
- Fluid buildup under the retina without a tear (exudative detachment)
- Risk factors: severe myopia, eye injury, previous eye surgery, family history
📋 Symptoms
- Sudden appearance of many floaters (small spots or threads in vision)
- Flashes of light in one eye
- Shadow or curtain effect over part of the visual field
- Sudden decrease in vision
🩺 Diagnosis
- Eye exam with dilated pupil
- Ultrasound if retina cannot be seen directly
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) in some cases
💊 Treatment
- Emergency treatment is crucial!
- Laser therapy or freezing (cryopexy) to seal retinal tears
- Pneumatic retinopexy: gas bubble injected into the eye to push the retina back
- Scleral buckle surgery: silicone band placed around the eye to support retina
- Vitrectomy: surgical removal of vitreous gel and repair of retina
⚠️ Complications
- Permanent vision loss if untreated
- Recurrence of detachment
🛡️ Prevention
- Regular eye exams if at high risk
- Immediate evaluation if symptoms appear (floaters, flashes, vision shadows)
- Protect eyes from injury