Retinal detachment is the separation of layers of the retina from the inner surface of the eye. The detached retina does not perform its function, so vision becomes blurry. If you do not start treatment immediately, you can lose vision in the affected eye.

It’s a severe condition that requires retinal detachment surgery. Please be very careful and make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms of the disease. 

Why Does the Retina Peel Off?

The retina is a layer of nerve cells located on the eye’s inner surface. It receives light and sends signals to the brain, from which images that we see are formed.

The vitreous body is a transparent gel that fills the inside of the eye.

As we age, the vitreous body of our eye decreases in size. When the eye moves, the vitreous body moves towards the retina and does not cause problems. However, in some people, it does not detach from the retina and can cause retinal tears. As a result, through the gap, the fluid enters under the retina, and the retina exfoliates from the inner surface of the eye.

This is why we may see eye floaters. These are small accumulations of cells or certain substances in the vitreous, which look like small moving dots, lines, or clouds in the site of view.

Who Is at Increased Risk for Retinal Detachment?

Risk factors for developing retinal detachment:

  • shortsightedness (cannot see distant objects without glasses)
  • previous cataract, glaucoma, or other eye surgery;
  • the use of drugs for glaucoma that constricts the pupil (pilocarpine, etc.)
  • serious eye injury
  • rupture or detachment of the retina in the second eye;
  • retinal detachment in close relatives;
  • the presence of weak spots on the retina (they can be detected by an ophthalmologist during examination).

Early Manifestations of Retinal Detachment

See an ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.

  • The sudden appearance of flashes before the eye. Sometimes patients see “stars before their eyes” from a hit to the eye.
  • The sudden appearance of numerous eye floaters – dots, lines, or spirals.
  • The appearance of a shadow on the periphery of the field of view.
  • Part of the site of view is covered with a gray veil.

How Is Retinal Detachment Diagnosed and Treated?

The ophthalmologist will examine the retina with a special lens before expanding the pupil with eye drops.

Retinal detachment is subject to surgical treatment. Here are some of the surgical procedures that are performed in this case.

  • Pneumatic retinopexy. The ophthalmologist injects a bubble of gas into the eye. The bubble presses the retina against the inner surface of the eye so that it returns to its place. After this operation, the doctor will ask you to keep your head in a certain position for several days to keep the bubble in the right place. Gradually, as the retina adheres, the bubble will dissolve, and the eye will fill with its own intraocular fluid.
  • Vitrectomy. The ophthalmologist removes the vitreous body, which stretches the retina. Instead of the vitreous body, a vial of medical air, gas, or silicone oil is injected into the eye. This bubble presses the retina against the inner surface of the eye so that it adheres. If a bubble of silicone oil has been injected into the eye, it will be removed after a few months. Suppose a bubble of medical air or gas is injected into your eye. In that case, you should not fly by plane, climb to high altitudes, or scuba dive because the gas bubble increases in size during a rapid ascent and causes an increase in intraocular pressure. For some time, you need to keep your head in a certain position so that the bubble presses the retina to the inner surface of the eye.
  • Extrascleral filling. A small seal (tape) made of rubber or soft plastic is sutured to the outside of the eye, which presses on the eye and helps the detached retina fit. Usually, this seal is left in the eye forever; it is not visible to the surrounding people.