Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is an eye problem that happens when the retina, a thin membrane of nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye, comes off (detaches).

The nerve cells in the retina normally detect light entering the eye and send signals to the brain about what the eye sees. But when the retina detaches, it no longer works as it should. It can cause blurred and lost vision. Retinal detachment requires medical care right away.

Many people see floaters and flashes of light before they have symptoms of retinal detachment. Floaters are spots, specks, and lines that float through your field of vision. Flashes are brief sparkles or lightning streaks that are easiest to see when your eyes are closed. They often appear at the edges of your visual field. Floaters and flashes don't always mean that you will have a retinal detachment. But they may be a warning sign, so it's best to be checked by a doctor right away.

In rare cases, a retinal detachment happens without warning. The first sign of detachment may be a shadow across part of your vision that doesn't go away. Or you may have new and sudden loss of side (peripheral) vision that gets worse over time.

To diagnose retinal detachment, your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. You will be asked about your past eye problems and risk factors. The doctor will also test your near and distance vision (visual acuity) and side (peripheral) vision. These routine vision tests don't find retinal detachment itself. But they can find problems that could lead to or result from retinal detachment.

A doctor can usually see a retinal tear or detachment while checking the retina using ophthalmoscopy. This test allows the doctor to see inside the back of the eye using a magnifying tool with a light.

If a retinal tear or detachment involves blood vessels in the retina, you may have bleeding in the middle of the eye. In these cases, your doctor can view the retina using ultrasound or optical coherence tomography. These are tests that use sound or light waves to see the retina.

Surgery is the only way to reattach the retina. There are many ways to do the surgery. They include using lasers, air bubbles, or a freezing probe to seal a tear in the retina and reattach the retina. This condition needs treatment right away. Without treatment, vision loss can become severe.

• Follow any instructions your doctor gave you. You may need to rest and sleep with your head in a certain position. You may also need to wear an eye patch or use eye drops.
• Your doctor may advise you not to travel by plane until your eye is healed. This is because the changes in air pressure may cause pain and affect your eye.