Not very common. Only 6-8 people out of 10,000 experience retinal detachment. Retinal detachment can occur at any age, but it is more common in midlife and later. It affects more men than women, and Caucasians more than Blacks.

There is a slight chance that the retina can become detached again despite successful surgery. The risk is greatest during the weeks to months immediately following the surgery.

Retinal detachment is a condition that occurs when the retina’s sensory layer peels away from the support layer. This means that the brain cannot construct a precise image from the signals sent by the damaged retina. For the causes, symptoms and treatment of retinal detachment, please follow this link.

A retinal detachment is a separation of the layers in the retina ? the film in the back of the eye that transmits messages to our brain. These can occur spontaneously or with trauma. Retinal detachments often cause lots of new floaters and flashes to occur. They can also present as a loss of part of the peripheral vision and eventually the central vision. When diagnosed early, treatment with laser can help prevent the progression of a retinal detachment and further vision loss.

Retinal degenerations affect men and women of all ages, races, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds. The broad range of retinal degenerative diseases affects at least six million Americans. Approximately 100,000 people in the United States are affected by retinitis pigmentosa or Usher syndrome, which is a variation of RP that also impairs hearing.

Retinal detachment is a serious condition that can lead to severe visual impairment or even total blindness in the affected eye. If any part of the retina is lifted or pulled from its normal position, it is considered detached, and will cause some vision loss. The detachment will almost always progress, and vision loss will increase, until it is treated. Therefore, retinal detachment is always considered an emergency.

Retinal detachment is caused by a combination of factors including retinal holes, retinal breaks, or retinal tears, and liquefaction of the vitreous humor. Any tiny tears or holes in the retina can allow vitreous fluid to seep under the retina, separating it from the back wall of the eye (like wallpaper). Retinal tears may also result from a hard blow or injury to the eye, though this is rather rare.

have regular dilated eye exams if you are very nearsighted or if you have a family history of retinal problems

A sudden increase in number and size of floaters is a warning that small amounts of blood and debris have appeared in the vitreous. The flashes are sensations from the retina as it is pulled or torn, or is rubbed by the loosened vitreous. If a tear breaks a larger retinal blood vessel, the blood spilling into the vitreous can cause a massive increase in floaters or even total loss of vision in that eye.

Yes. Early diagnosis and proper treatment is recommended to restore your vision. A small tear in the retina can be treated by laser or gas (Pneumatic Retinopexy). These procedures are in-office procedures. For larger detachment, a scleral buckle procedure is recommended. This procedure is done in a surgical center.

No. There is no medicine, eye drop, vitamin, herb, or diet that is beneficial to patients with retinal detachment.

To diagnose retinal detachment, your doctor will examine your eyes and ask you questions about any symptoms you have. If you have symptoms of retinal detachment, your doctor will use a lighted magnifying tool called an ophthalmoscope to examine your retina. With this tool, your doctor can see holes, tears, or retinal detachment.

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Direct trauma to the eye can lead to retinal breaks, holes, or tears that occur days, weeks, months, or even years after the incident.

Yes, even a slight blockage of the vision caused by partial retinal detachment can result in blindness if not treated right away.

Retinal detachment can also occur as a complication of diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, inflammatory disorders, or trauma.

Simply having a longer eye associated with myopia probably does not cause retinal detachment, tears, holes, or breaks. A variety of peripheral retinal degenerations such as lattice degeneration is often genetically linked to myopia and may cause retinal holes, or tears.

Detachment is more likely to occur if the other eye has the condition (such as lattice degeneration) associated with retinal detachment in the first eye. If only one eye suffers a serious injury or requires eye surgery then, of course, the chance of detachment in the other eye is not increased by the event.

Vitrectomy (removal of the vitreous humor), scleral buckles, gas bubbles, silicone oil, lasers, cryo (freezing), temporary balloons, and diathermy (thermal energy created by radio waves) can all be used to repair retinal detachments. These treatments are often used in combination. Typical combinations are: Vitrectomy, gas, and laser to repair retinal detachments that occur after cataract surgery and other moderately complex detachments.

Vitrectomy means to remove the vitreous humor. Although vitreous humor is often referred to as vitreous jelly, the collagen fibers in the hyaluronic acid gel (jelly) are the component that cuases retinal detachment. Vitreous pulls on the retina creating retinal tears or breaks. The vitreous never regenerates if it is removes, and the eye will have perfect vision and a normal shape without the vitreous.

Because retinal tears and detachments are not visible from the outside of the eye, only a comprehensive eye exam can detect them. Your eye doctor will use a light magnification instrument to view the inside of your eye. Your eye doctor may also use certain types of magnification lenses, a slit lamp or ultrasound to diagnose retinal tears or detachments.

No. There is no medicine, eye drop, vitamin, herb, or diet that is beneficial to patients with retinal detachment.

Schedule an appointment at NeoVision Eye Center by calling toll free at 1-877-NEOVISION (1-877-636-8474).

Actually another form of retinal detachment called traction retinal detachment can occur as a complication of diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurely, inflammatory disorders, or trauma. The more common type of detachment associated with retinal holes, breaks, or a tear is called rhegmatogenous.

No. Retinal holes, breaks, or tears can occur after uncomplicated eye surgery performed at the highest level of excellence. This complication is probably related to normal alterations in the vitreous humor (jelly) that often occur during or after eye surgery.