If you are experiencing retinal detachment, there are some essential things you need to know. While retinal detachment is not usually painful, depending on how much of your retina is detached, you may experience partial or complete vision loss. Hence, immediately scheduling an appointment with your eye doctor is crucial.
Your retina is located at the back of your eye. As light passes through your eye, your lens focuses an image on your retina, which converts the image to signals and then transfers them to your brain via the optic nerve.
Retinal detachment requires fast treatment because it can have severe consequences, so you must make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible.
What Is Retinal Detachment?
Retinal detachment is considered a medical emergency because it pulls the retina away from the supportive tissues, causing a loss of blood supply, oxygen, and nutrients to the retina. Retinal detachment can lead to severe issues, including a loss of vision or even permanent blindness, which can occur within a few days.
Symptoms of Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment can occur without warning. Some of the indicators you may notice are:
- New floaters, which appear as tiny dots, threads, squiggly lines, or dark spots, drift across your vision.
- The appearance of a curtain or darkness over your vision or peripheral vision
- Seeing flashes of light called photopsia
- Blurry vision
Depending on the severity of your retina tear or detachment, you are more likely to experience other symptoms.
Causes of and Risk Factors for Developing Retinal Detachment
Various risk factors include the following:
- Injuries to your eye
- Aging
- Having someone in your family with previous retinal detachment
- Having eye surgery
- Medical issues that affect the health of your eyes
- Being nearsighted
- Posterior vitreous detachment occurs when fluid builds up in the middle of the eye and pulls away from the retina.
- Having a history of retinal detachments or tears in your other eye
If you are in the high-risk category for retinal detachment, make an appointment with your eye doctor for an eye exam and take precautions and steps to protect your eye health.
Types of Retinal Detachment
The three main types of retinal detachment include the following:
- Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment is undoubtedly the most common kind of retinal detachment, and it happens due to a retinal tear customarily caused by age. As the body ages, the vitreous gel sometimes fills the eyeball and begins to pull away from the retina. Retinal detachment can also occur due to surgery, nearsightedness, or an eye injury.
- Tractional Retinal Detachment occurs in individuals with diabetes. Due to chronic high blood sugar levels, the blood vessels in the back of the eye can become damaged, leading to scar tissue areas that continue to enlarge and pull on the retina, causing it to detach from the back of the eye.
- Exudative Retinal Detachment occurs when fluid builds up behind the retina, pushing it away from the tissue even when there is no retinal tear. The most common cause of fluid buildup is swelling or leaking blood vessels behind the eye.
Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment
Your doctor will perform an eye exam by dilating your eye to check your retina. They may also recommend other non-invasive tests to help ensure your retina can be seen clearly and in great detail.
The diagnosis and test to determine if your retina has detached include the following.
Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical coherence tomography, or OCT, is a type of imaging in which your doctor dilates your eye and has you sit in front of the OCT machine with your head resting on a support to keep it still. The OCT machine scans your eye without touching it, allowing your doctor to view your retinal area.
Fundus Imaging
Fundus imaging is a type of imaging that usually requires your eyes to be dilated. It takes wide-angle images of your retina.
Eye Ultrasound
Eye ultrasound is another procedure your doctor may recommend. Dilating drops are not required for an eye ultrasound; however, your eye doctor may use drops to help numb your eyes and prevent discomfort.
During this procedure, you will sit in a chair and rest your head on the support to help you stay still. With your eyes closed and gel on your eyelids, your eye doctor will gently place an instrument along the front of your eye to scan it. Keeping your eyes closed, your doctor will instruct you to move your eyeballs as they scan them with the ocular (eye) ultrasound instrument.
Computed Tomography
Computed tomography (CT scan) is a type of Imaging that utilizes X-rays with a computer. It is generally recommended for individuals with a history of eye trauma or who have possibly had a penetrating eye injury.
Treatment for Retinal Detachment
Depending upon their assessment, your eye doctor may recommend several treatments to get you the best results. Possible treatments include the following.
Cryopexy or Laser Therapy
Cryopexy (freezing) or laser (thermal) therapy is a procedure your eye doctor may recommend to treat a retinal tear before it begins pulling away. During this procedure, your doctor will use a freezing tool or medical laser to seal the tear, creating a scar that will hold your retina in place.
Pneumatic Retinopexy
Pneumatic (gas bubble) retinopexy may be a good option for certain patients. During this procedure, your eye doctor will place a small gas bubble into your eye, pressing against your retina and closing the tear.
You may also need cryopexy or laser therapy to seal the tear. Your body will automatically re-absorb any fluid collected under your retina, and your retina will be able to stick to your eyeball like usual.
As your eye heals, your body will eventually absorb the gas bubble. After your surgery, you will need to keep your head still to ensure you heal correctly, and your eye doctor will recommend the best sleeping and resting position for you to lie in. While it may seem frustrating, ensuring your eye heals correctly to give you the best possible outcome is in your best interest.
Scleral Buckle Surgery
For scleral buckle surgery, your eye doctor will place a sponge or silicone band around your eye. The band will stay in place permanently and will not be visible. Your eye doctor will then seal the tear with a laser or cryopexy, and they also inject a gas bubble or drain any fluid under your retina to help reattach it.
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is an eye surgery that utilizes freezing or laser to seal any retinal holes or tears. They will place a bubble of air, oil, or gas in your eye to help push your retina back into place.
If your doctor uses an oil bubble, it must be removed in a few months. If your doctor uses a gas bubble, they may recommend that you avoid certain activities at certain altitudes.
Higher altitudes can cause the size of the gas bubble to increase in size and cause pressure in your eye. You will also need to avoid traveling or flying at high altitudes. Your doctor will tell you when you can begin these activities again.
Complications of Treating Retinal Detachments
Surgery to repair retinal detachment is usually very successful. However, every type of surgery also comes with the possibility of complications and risks. Risks and complications associated with surgery for repairing retinal detachment include the following:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Increased pressure in your eye (intraocular pressure)
- Possible future surgeries
- Proliferative retinopathy or epiretinal membrane which forms after the surgery and causes shrinkage and pulls the tissue out of place
- Rapid cataract formation, which will require cataract surgery
Expectations for Recovering From Retinal Detachment Surgery
Your eye doctor may recommend pain medicine and other forms of relief. You may experience discomfort lasting a few weeks, so you must take it easy. Talk with your doctor about exercise, driving, and when to return to your regular activities.
Your doctor will likely recommend you wear an eyepatch and follow their instructions. They will also give you instructions about your head positioning and how long it will be required to ensure the best outcome for your eyes.
Schedule Your Eye Exam Today With New Vision Eye Center and Receive World-Class Eye Care™
Our skilled doctors and friendly staff at New Vision Eye Center in Vero Beach, Florida, will ensure you receive the best care using the latest technology and minimally invasive treatments.
We are the leader in advanced custom cataract surgery, surgical and medical retinal care, glaucoma care, laser vision correction, general ophthalmology, eyelid surgery, corneal transplants, and YAG laser surgery.
If you are experiencing retinal detachment or other eye issues or want to ensure that your eyes stay healthy, contact us today to book an appointment with one of our highly trained doctors.