Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment
Cross section of retinal detachment
SpecialtyOphthalmology 

Retinal detachment is a condition where the retina pulls away from the tissue underneath it.[1][2][3] It may start in a small area, but without quick treatment, it can spread across the entire retina, leading to serious vision loss and possibly blindness.[4] Retinal detachment is a medical emergency that requires surgery.[2][3]

The retina is a thin layer at the back of the eye that processes visual information and sends it to the brain.[5] When the retina detaches, common symptoms include seeing floaters, flashing lights, a dark shadow in vision, and sudden blurry vision.[1][3] The most common type of retinal detachment is rhegmatogenous, which occurs when a tear or hole in the retina lets fluid from the center of the eye get behind it, causing the retina to pull away.[6]

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is most commonly caused by posterior vitreous detachment, a condition where the gel inside the eye breaks down and pulls on the retina.[4][7] Risk factors include older age, nearsightedness (myopia), eye injury, cataract surgery, and inflammation.[7][8]

Retinal detachment is usually diagnosed through a dilated eye exam.[4] If needed, additional imaging tests can help confirm the diagnosis.[8] Treatment involves surgery to reattach the retina, such as pneumatic retinopexy, vitrectomy, or scleral buckling.[2] Prompt treatment is crucial to protect vision.[8]

  1. ^ a b "Detached retina (retinal detachment)". www.nhs.co.uk. NHS. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c "Retinal detachment". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. National Institutes of Health. 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-18.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Ahmed, Faryal; Tripathy, Koushik (2024), "Posterior Vitreous Detachment", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 33085420, retrieved 2024-12-06
  8. ^ a b c Lin, Jonathan B.; Narayanan, Raja; Philippakis, Elise; Yonekawa, Yoshihiro; Apte, Rajendra S. (2024-03-14). "Retinal detachment". Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 10 (1): 18. doi:10.1038/s41572-024-00501-5. ISSN 2056-676X. PMID 38485969.
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