A condition in which the retina becomes detached from the choroid and sclera.
A condition in which the retina is partly detached from the choroid.
Separation of the retina from the choroid layer of the eye due to trauma, aging, or diabetes causing the blood vessels to become increasingly fragile.
Separation of the retina from the underlying tissues. Retinal detachments are usually caused by a tear or hole in the retina. Eye fluids leak through the opening and accumulate under the retina, lifting it off the tissues that support it. A retinal detachment is painless, but it causes major changes in vision. These include bright flashes of light, particularly off to the sides of the visual field; a sudden increase in floaters (translucent shapes that move through the field of vision); blurred vision; or the sensation that a thick curtain is being pulled across the eye. Retinal detachment is an emergency that may lead to blindness and requires immediate medical attention.
Separation of the inner sensory layer of the retina from the outer pigment epithelium. It is usually caused by a hole or break in the inner sensory layer that permits fluid from the vitreous to leak under the retina and lift off its innermost layer. Causes include trauma and any disease that causes retinopathy, such as diabetes or sickle cell disease. Symptoms are blurred vision, flashes of light, vitreous floaters, and loss of visual acuity. The location of holes must be determined so that they can be repaired by laser therapy (i.e., photocoagulation).
A severe visual impairment occurs when the layer of light-sensitive cells within the eye, known as the retina, becomes detached from its usual supportive tissue, leading to impaired functionality.
The detachment of the retina, the inner light-sensitive layer located at the rear of the eye, from the outer layers in the same region. Retinal detachment can be a result of an eye injury but typically happens without warning. It is often preceded by a retinal tear, a rupture in the retina. This condition is more prevalent in individuals with high myopia (nearsightedness) and those who have undergone cataract surgery.
Retinal detachment is devoid of pain. The initial indication might be the emergence of vivid flashes of light, stemming from the stimulation of light-sensitive cells during the occurrence of a tear. This could be accompanied by floaters, tiny fragments perceived as drifting within the field of vision, caused by the release of blood or pigment into the vitreous humor (the gel-like substance within the eye’s rear compartment). Alternatively, the initial sign of retinal detachment might be the gradual appearance of a black “drape” that starts to obscure vision.
Prompt intervention is crucial to prevent the detachment of the macula, the central vision area. Typically, this necessitates surgical repair of the underlying tear. An elastic silicone rubber sponge might be stitched onto the external surface of the sclera, the outer eye layer covering the detachment. This sponge creates an indentation on the sclera, leading to the absorption of fluid beneath the retina and allowing it to settle back into its original position. The retina is subsequently secured using techniques like cryopexy (application of extreme cold), diathermy (application of heat to promote inflammatory adhesion of underlying tissues), or laser treatment. When the macula remains intact, the outcomes can be highly positive.