Retinal Detachment

Symptoms

• Blurred vision.
• Loss of vision.
• The sudden appearance of lots of floaters in your vision field.
• Abrupt Light flashes in one or both eyes.
• A persistent curtain-like shadow, partially over your field of vision.
• The quick loss of borderline vision.

Causes

The most common cause is aging. As you age, the amount of vitreous (a gel-like substance that coats the inside of your eye) can change, causing the retina to shift out of place. In many cases, as scar tissue grows on the surface of the retina, it detaches from the membrane that borders the eye. It can be due to various other reasons. Long-term untreated retinal detachment increases the risk of vision loss. It is a severe medical condition and needs prompt medical care.

Treatment

Surgery is the mainstay treatment for retinal detachment. Some types of detached retina surgery include

• Vitrectomy: The vitreous pulling on the retina is removed and replaced either with oil , gas or air bubble. The bubble pushes back the retina in its place so that it can heal properly. In case oil bubble is used, it is removed after a few months
• Scleral buckle: A band of rubber or soft plastic is sewn to the outside of eyeball which gently presses the eye inward. This helps the detached retina heal against the eye wall. It is usually left on the eye permanently and not visible.
• Pneumatic retinopexy: A gas bubble is pushed into the eye followed by a appropriate positioning depending upon the location of the tear or hole, so that the retina is pushed back to its place and healing occurs