Early on, you may notice a shadow in your peripheral vision. Left alone, fluid will generally continue to accumulate under the retina and peel it off the eyewall. Or, you may experience a different type of floaters, caused by blood cells floating in the liquefied vitreous gel, which may be severe enough to cause temporary blindness. Occasionally, the traction occurs near a blood vessel, resulting in sheering of the blood vessels and bleeding into the vitreous cavity. The flashes often disappear completely, while floaters tend to linger. When the vitreous gel pulls on the retina, the most common result is a gradual release of the gel and resolution of symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate help from an ophthalmologist, or you may risk permanent vision loss in the affected eye. If the tear has led to a retinal detachment, there may be a fixed shadow or dark spot in your visual field.If the torn retina is associated with some bleeding, your vision may become hazy.They may look like streaks of light or bursts of lightning. Sudden flashes of light (photopsia), which may occur first thing in the morning and fade throughout the day, or appear in the dark.They may look like small moving specks, cobwebs, squiggly lines or really anything. Sudden onset of floaters, tiny, solidified particles that slowly drift in front of the retina.But they typically present with such visual symptoms as: Retinal tears may be asymptomatic and only discovered during a routine eye exam. Generally, retinal tears and detachments are painless. Among the risk factors are eye tumors, injuries or trauma, diseases causing eye inflammation, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). If enough fluid gets trapped, your retina pushes away from the eyewall. Exudative retinal detachment involves fluid building up behind your retina, but without tears or breaks.It is usually due to diabetic retinopathy, which damages retinal blood vessels, leading to scarring.

Tractional retinal detachment develops when scar tissue forms on your retina, pulling it away from the eyewall.

It may occur due to PVD, myopia, eye injuries and eye surgery.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, the most common form, results from a small retinal tear or break.

There are three specific types of retinal detachment: Retinal DetachmentĪcross the population, retinal detachment occurs in approximately 1 out of every 7,000 people. In some cases, no definite cause for detachment can be identified. Individuals with lattice degeneration are about 10 times more likely to develop a detachment.Īdditionally, certain inflammatory conditions and infections, particularly viral, are associated with higher retinal detachment risks. Another risk factor is lattice degeneration, in which patches of the peripheral (side) retina thins, and the vitreous develops abnormal adhesion, making tearing more likely. The worse your myopia, the greater your chances of retinal detachment development. Myopic eyes are shaped longer, which stretches and thins the retina, increasing tearing risks. Myopia is also a risk factor for retinal tears and detachment. And while PVD is the most common cause, other risk factors include: eye injury or trauma previously having a retinal tear or detachment in your other eye family history of retinal tears or detachment having weak retinal areas, as seen during an eye exam and having undergone eye surgery for cataracts or glaucoma. There’s no way to predict who might develop a retinal tear or when it may occur. If you have a new retinal tear, your risk for a detachment is about 70 percent. Typically, within two months of retinal tear symptoms’ onset, 10 percent of affected eyes develop subsequent retinal tears.

Retinal tears and detachment can affect any age group, male or female. These conditions are very common, and generally, they occur through no fault of the patient. Contrary to popular belief, retinal tears and detachments don’t only occur in those who’ve experienced trauma. Eventually, it completely detaches and moves out of its proper place this is known as a retinal detachment. As more fluid seeps in, the retina’s pushed and separates from the eye wall. Over time, the vitreous shrinks and sticks to the retina, pulling it away from the eyewall and leading to the development of retinal tears.Ī tear can create an opening, allowing vitreal fluid to leak behind the retina. PVD targets the vitreous (or vitreous gel or humor), a clear, jelly-like gel that maintains the eye’s shape and provides light with a clear pathway to the retina. However, due to a common condition called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), normal aging can endanger your retina. The retina is essentially a thin sheet of light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the eye’s back wall, much like wallpaper.

Retina reattachment surgery