The human eye is like a camera, and the retina is like a negative placed at the back of the camera; the cornea and the lens at the front of the eye focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye, which perceives the light and transmits the image to the nerve layer of the brain.
What is retinal detachment?
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina is pulled from its normal position, much like wallpaper is pulled from a wall. When a detachment occurs, the retina does not work properly and vision becomes blurred. This is like taking a picture of a camera with a loose negative, so the picture comes out blurry.
If left untreated, retinal detachment can almost always lead to blindness, so it is a very serious disease.
Why does retinal detachment occur?
The vitreous humor is a clear, gelatinous substance that fills the center of the eye. In some cases, certain parts of the vitreous can become attached to the retina at the back of the eye and pull the retina up, or tear the retina, allowing fluid from inside the eye to get underneath the retina and lift the retina from its original position.
The following conditions can increase the chance of retinal detachment.
1. nearsightedness.
2. previous cataract surgery.
3, glaucoma.
4. severe trauma.
5. previous retinal detachment in the other eye.
6, family history of retinal detachment.
7. The retina is found to have degenerative thinning by the doctor’s examination.
What are the possible symptoms of retinal detachment?
Early symptoms of retinal detachment include a flashing sensation, emerging floaters in the eye, and a gray curtain that gradually covers the visual field. These symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have a retinal detachment, but you should get your eyes checked as soon as possible.
Your eye doctor will dilate your pupils and examine the inside of your eyes. Only after a careful examination will your doctor be able to determine if you have a retinal tear or early retinal detachment.
How is retinal detachment treated?
Almost all patients with retinal detachment require surgery to restore the retina to its normal position. There are several surgical options for treating retinal detachment. Which surgical procedure and type of anesthesia (local or general anesthesia) should be used depends on the nature of the retinal detachment that is present. The commonly used surgical procedures are.
1. Scleral buckling: A flexible band (scleral buckle) is wrapped around the eye for one week, which counteracts the forces pulling on the retina inside the eye. The surgeon will usually release the fluid from beneath the detached retina from the eye and return the retina to its original position immediately behind the wall of the eye.
2. Intraocular gas injection: A bubble is injected into the eye where the vitreous humor is located. This bubble pushes the retina against the back wall of the eye, thus closing the fissure. Your doctor will ask you to maintain a specific head position (i.e., head posture) for a few days after the procedure. The air bubble in the eye will gradually disappear.
3. Vitrectomy: The pulling of the retina by the vitreous lesion is eliminated by removing the diseased vitreous; sometimes a combination of several procedures is required.
In each of these surgical procedures, the surgeon identifies the location of the fissure and then closes the retinal fissure with laser or cryotherapy.
What else do I have to do after surgery?
You will feel some discomfort after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe all the necessary medications and tell you when you can resume your normal activities. The flashing sensation and floaters will continue for some time after the surgery. If you have had an air bubble injected into your eye, your doctor will ask you to hold a special head position for a certain amount of time.
If your doctor does not tell you that the bubble in your eye has disappeared, do not fly or travel to high altitude areas! The rapid rise in altitude can raise your eye pressure and cause harm to your eye.
Are there any risks associated with the surgery?
There are risks associated with any surgery; as with any surgery, there are risks associated with surgery for retinal detachment, such as the risk of bleeding and infection. However, if a retinal detachment is left untreated, it usually leads to permanent and severe vision impairment and even blindness.
Most retinal detachment surgeries are successful, but sometimes a second surgery is required.
Will my vision improve after surgery?
After surgery, it usually takes several months for a patient’s vision to improve, but in some cases it may be difficult to return to the level that existed before the detached retina. There are also some patients whose vision does not recover after surgery. The more severe the retinal detachment and the longer it has been detached, the more difficult it is to recover vision. It is for this reason that it is vital to get your eyes checked at the first sign of symptoms!