Detached Retina Treatment

A detached retina is most commonly seen in the elderly and for those who are severely obese, and it could lead to blindness if not treated promptly and correctly. A detached retain is when the retina moves from its normal position in the back of the eye. If discovered early enough, a detached retina can be treated successfully and with minimal invasive procedures.

Detached Retina Basics

• The retina is like the film of a camera that develops and transmits pictures from the eye to the brain. It normally rests against the back of the eye, but age, injury and other factors can cause it to slowly peel away and eventually detach completely from the retina. When the retina begins to detach, you may notice blurry vision or a cloudy film over everything you see from one of your eyes.

  If left untreated, the retina can detach completely from the eye, cutting off all exchange between the eye and the brain, eventually leading to blindness. There are three main types of retinal detachment. Rhegmatogenous detachment is when the fluid of the eye is punctured or torn and leaks into the space between the eye and retina, causing the retina to detach. Tractional detachment is caused when scar tissue on the retina contracts and the contraction pulls the retina away from the eye, causing it to detach. Exudative detachment is similar to rhegmatogenous as fluid from the eye leaks between the retina and the eye, but this is caused by retinal disease rather than a puncture or tear.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• When you begin to show early symptoms of a detached retina, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately. He can take a picture of the back of the eye to see how bad the retina has detached and whether it will require surgery. In some instances, the tear is so negligible that nothing is done except for consistent monitoring to see if it gets any worse.

  If treatment is required, the most common types are laser surgery or cryotherapy to attach the retina back to the eye. Pneumatic retinopexy uses a gas bubble injected into the retina to set it in place and then attach it using laser surgery or cryotherapy. Surgery may also be done to remove any fluid that has built up in the retina so that it can be attached to the eye. It may take several months for your vision to return to normal; in some cases, vision will not improve and will be permanently changed.