Retinal Detachment Health Article

Definition

Retinal detachment is a serious eye disorder in which the retina, a thin tissue of cells located in the back of the eye, separates from the underlying tissue layers.

Description

There are three layers of the eyeball. The outer, tough, white layer is called the sclera. Lining the sclera is the choroid, a thin membrane that supplies nutrients to part of the retina. The retina is located at the back of the eye and consists of three cellular layers.

The retina contains the light-sensitive receptors for sight and processes visual images. A retinal detachment occurs between the two outermost layers of the retina, the photoreceptor layer that receives light and the outermost pigmented epithelium. When a tear in the retina occurs, the fluids in the eye may leak and pull the retina out of place, or detach it from the layers. Because the choroid supplies the photoreceptors within the retina with nutrients, a detachment can basically starve the photoreceptors. If a detachment is not repaired within 24–72 hours, permanent damage may occur.

Causes & symptoms

Several conditions may cause retinal detachment:

• Scarring or shrinkage of the vitreous (substance comprising the insides of the eye) can pull the retina inward.
• Small tears in the retina allow liquid to seep behind the retina and push it forward.
• Injury to the eye can loosen the retina. Trauma is the most common cause of retinal detachment in children, although it is comparatively unusual in the adult population.
• Bleeding behind the retina, most often due to diabetic retinopathy or injury, can push it forward.
• Retinal detachment may be spontaneous. This occurs more often in the elderly or in very nearsighted (myopic) eyes.
• Cataract surgery causes retinal detachment 2% of the time.
• Myopia.
• Diabetes.
• Congenital factors (those that people are born with).
• Family history of retinal problems.
• High blood pressure.
• Stress.
• Tumors.

Retinal detachment will cause a sudden defect in vision. It may look as if a curtain or shadow has just descended before the eye. If most of the retina is detached, there may be only a small hole of vision remaining. If only a portion of the retina is involved, there will be a blind spot that may not even be noticed. Retinal detachment is often associated with floaters, which are little dark spots that float across the eye and can be mistaken for flies in the room. There may also be flashes of light. Anyone experiencing sudden flashes of light or floaters should contact his/her eye doctor immediately since these may be symptoms of detachment.