Treatments for Retinal Detachment

Good vision is a precious asset, but your eyes can be threatened by illness or injury. Retinal detachment is a condition that can impair your vision. It can happen to anyone, although the National Eye Institute says that it is most common in people who are severely nearsighted, have had an eye injury or surgery for cataracts, have a family history of retinal detachment or who have other eye diseases. Fortunately, this condition has prominent symptoms and a high success rate for treatment.

Definition

• According to the National Eye Institute, retinal detachment means that the retina of a person's eye is pulled or lifted out of its usual position. Sometimes there will be small tears or breaks rather than a detachment of the entire retina. It is critical to treat retinal detachment right away. Otherwise, it can lead to permanent loss of vision.

Symptoms

• Symptoms that could mean you have suffered a retinal detachment include an increase in "floaters" (small specks that float in the line of vision) or seeing flashes of light. The National Eye Institute says that a curtain may also obstruct your field of vision. Other conditions, such as ocular migraines, can have similar symptoms. You should see your doctor immediately for a diagnosis because if your problem is a detached retina, you need prompt treatment.

Laser and Freeze Treatments

• If your retina has developed tears or small holes rather than detaching, the Mayo Clinic says that the tears can be repaired with the use of a laser or freeze treatment. The laser creates burns around the tears. This causes scarring that anchors the retina to the surrounding tissue. Freezing also leaves scars that help secure the retina in place. It is usually used for tears that are hard to reach. Prompt treatment of tears and holes can prevent a full detachment from happening.

Surgery

• Retinal detachment is treated via surgery. The National Eye Institute reports that a scleral buckle is attached to the outside of the eyeball. The "buckle" is actually a small synthetic band that pushes the eye wall against the detached retina. You may also need a vitrectomy, which involves removing the vitreous gel from your eye and replacing it with gas. The gas helps the retina reattach by pushing it against the eye wall. As you heal, the eye will produce new fluid. A laser or cryopexy is used with these procedures to weld the retina into the correct place.

Success Rate

• The National Eye Institute says that retinal detachments can be treated successfully in over 90 percent of cases, although you may need a second treatment. You may experience some vision impairment, but the full extent won't be known until several months after your surgery. If you are part of the 10 percent of people whose treatment fails, it could result in blindness.