Types of Retinal Detachment

The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. Retinal detachment (RD) occurs when this tissue separates from the underlying membrane that holds it in place. The condition leads to blindness if left untreated. RD usually occurs in older people, according to eMedicine, but it also happens to younger people that have suffered eye injuries. There are several different kinds of RD.

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

• Rhegmatogenous RD is the most common form of retinal break. According to the Angeles Clinic, it usually starts when the vitreous, which is the clear gel inside the cavity of the eye, separates from the back wall of the eye. This condition is called posterior vitreous detachment. Over time, the vitreous fluid causes retinal detachment by moving behind the retina and lifting it away from the surrounding tissues.

  Several symptoms occur before a retinal break. One early warning sign is the presence of squiggly lines or dark spots called floaters that move with the patient's line of vision. Another symptom is intermittent bright spots or showers of light. These spots are the result of bleeding inside the eye. A retinal break causes loss in the peripheral vision first, followed by loss of sight in the rest of the eye.

Tractional Retinal Detachment

• Tractional RD is a frequent diabetes-related complication. It also occurs in people who have scar tissue from a previous eye operation, according to the Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York. Tractional RD develops when abnormal tissue and blood vessels grow between the surface of the retina and the back part of the vitreous. This damages the structure of the retina. The tissue causes RD by pulling the retina away from the back wall of the eye.

Exudative Detachments

• Exudative detachments happen when fluid leaks out from under the tissue of the retina. According to the Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York website, the condition is caused by a number of different factors, including inflammatory disorders, macular degeneration, and tumors inside the eye. The website indicates that the prognosis hinges on the reason for the detachment.