Retinal Detachment

Retinal Detachment – Thin Tissue Lining at the Back of the Eye Pulls Away

Retinal detachment takes place when the thin lining which lies at the back of the eye tend to pull away from the blood vessels supplying it with oxygen and nutrients. The retina is the thin tissue lining the inside of the back of the eye and when one looks around, light from the objects we intend to see enters the eye.

It can be compared to the film of a camera though unlike the camera, the retina continually renews itself electrically and chemically enabling us to see end number of different images daily without the need of being superimposed.The person with this condition will experience warning signs which could indicate that their retina is at risk of detaching before they tend to lose their sight.

It could include sudden appearance of floater, which are dark spots that float in one’s field of vision, or sudden short flashes of light in one eye, blurred or distorted vision. Prompt treatment is essential and the eye surgeon should be consulted for timely treatment since negligence could lead to blindness in the affected eye.

Caused due to Being Thinner & Brittle

Retinal detachment is caused due to the retina getting thinner and more brittle as the person tends to age and pull away from the underlying blood vessels. It could also be the result of direct injury though this is less common.

If a person is diagnosed with retinal detachment, they are referred to an eye specialist for immediate treatment wherein the ophthalmologist studies the back of the eye with an ophthalmoscope or a magnifying class connected to a light together with a slit lamp which is a microscope that magnified the eye.

If the view of the retina is poor, an ultrasound scan could also be used. Retinal detachment is a rare condition where one in every 10,000 people may develop a new case of retinal detachment. As it is associated with aging, most of the cases affect adults between the age of 50 and 75. It could also be caused by an injury to people of any age which also includes children.

Immediate Treatment Essential

The sooner the retinal detachment is treated the lesser the riskof permanent lose to some or all of the vision in the affected eye.

There are several cases of successful reattached surgeries conducted with a number of various forms of surgeries available depending on the choice of the individual. However, some may be unfortunate where their eyesight may not fully return after surgery and could have permanently reduced peripheral, side or central vision which could happen even if the retina has been reattached successfully.

It may takes months to completely recover from eye surgery during which period the vision may be reduced which means that one may not be in a position to perform some of the activities like driving or flying. For some time after the surgery, the person may experience watering, discomfort, swelling, redness and itching of the affected eye which can be treated with eye drops prescribed by the eye surgeon.

 Blurred vision could also last for several months with new glasses recommended since the scleral buckle changes the shape of the eye.