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 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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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

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

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

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

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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. See similar questions...

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