What is the retina? If we compare the human eye to a camera, the retina is the equivalent of a negative. It is a piece of neurosensory tissue located in the innermost layer of the eye. The normal attachment of the retina to the inner wall of the eye is necessary to maintain normal visual function and shape of the eye. What is retinal detachment? Retinal detachment is defined as a partial or complete detachment of the retina from the inner wall of the eye due to some pathology, resulting in a loss of vision and a softening of the eye. Clinically, retinal detachment is divided into two categories, primary retinal detachment and secondary retinal detachment, according to the different causes. Primary retinal detachment is the most common. Primary retinal detachment, also known as foraminogenic retinal detachment, refers to retinal degeneration and atrophy of the retina itself, resulting in a rupture of the retinal fluid through the rupture and causing retinal detachment, mostly without ocular or systemic diseases. It is common in people over 30 years of age, but less common in people under 20 years of age and children. 2/3 of the patients have myopia, and most of them are highly myopic. It is slightly more common in men than in women. There is no difference in the incidence of left and right eyes, and about 15% of patients have binocularity. Strenuous activity and trauma are the most common causative factors. In addition, a history of eye surgery, such as cataract removal and IOL implantation, is also a risk factor for retinal detachment. Secondary retinal detachment is defined as retinal detachment due to ocular and systemic diseases. Retinal detachment is only one of the signs in the course of these diseases, so patients have other manifestations of various ocular or systemic diseases in addition to retinal detachment. Clinically, retinal detachment is classified into retinal detachment by retinal detachment, retinal detachment by exudation and retinal detachment by trauma. How to detect retinal detachment? After retinal detachment, there are four main manifestations as follows: 1. Flying mosquito: there are black shadows floating in front of the eyes. The black shadow is smoky, dotted, lamellar or irregular ring, the shape often changes, very similar to a small insect flying in front of the eyes. This is a common symptom of the elderly and myopic patients, and is also an early symptom of retinal detachment; 2. Flash sensation: Because the retina is stretched, patients feel a flash of light, mostly when gazing in a certain direction. It may be the precursor of retinal detachment; 3. Curtain-like black shadow obscuration in front of the eyes: Curtain-like black shadow obscuration will appear in the visual field corresponding to retinal detachment, and the black shadow will gradually expand in a curtain-like shape with the expansion of retinal detachment; 4. Visual impairment: Due to the different parts and scope of retinal detachment, the time and degree of visual impairment appear differently. For small detachments located in the periphery, patients often have no conscious symptoms in the early stage, and only when the scope of retinal detachment expands do they notice vision loss. Patients with posterior pole retinal detachment will experience significant vision loss early on, often suddenly. If the detachment reaches the macula of the retina, it may be accompanied by visual distortion and microsomia. If these symptoms appear, it is important to treat them with caution and seek early medical attention. Consequences of retinal detachment: If retinal detachment is not treated, it can lead to intraocular uveitis, cataract and glaucoma, which can cause severe vision loss and eye pain. In severe cases, low eye pressure and even eye atrophy may occur. If not treated in time, the recovery of vision is extremely limited even after surgical treatment of retinal repositioning. Because the retina is a nerve tissue, equivalent to a piece of brain tissue, in the absence of blood supply in long-term detachment, the nerve cells will die irreversibly, and even after retinal dissection and reset, it is difficult to restore the function. Therefore, once the symptoms of retinal detachment are detected, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is important to draw attention to the fact that in monocular patients, because the vision of the opposite eye is normal, patients often do not notice the loss of vision in the early stage, and only notice it when the healthy eye is covered by chance, thus delaying the treatment. How to treat retinal detachment? When you find symptoms of retinal detachment, you should seek medical attention in a timely manner and minimize upsets and activities in the process of seeking medical attention. If you cannot go to the doctor immediately because of objective conditions, you should rest at home and cover both eyes to avoid increasing the scope of retinal detachment due to eye activities, and then go to the doctor immediately when you have the conditions. Treatment of retinal detachment: Retinal detachment generally requires hospitalization for observation and rest. Retinal detachment is usually treated surgically, and a small percentage of retinal fissures that are not associated with retinal detachment can be closed by laser photocoagulation. There are two major types of surgery: external surgery (i.e., surgery performed from the outer surface of the eye) and internal surgery (i.e., surgery performed inside the eye). External surgery is generally used for retinal detachments that occur in a short period of time and without complications. This surgery is short, less invasive and has a faster recovery. Those with prolonged retinal detachment and other secondary pathologies tend to use internal surgery. The choice of surgical method is decided by the surgeon according to the condition. If the retinal detachment affects the macula or is in danger of affecting the macula within a short period of time, in principle, emergency surgery should be performed. Because the recovery of vision will be limited if the macular detachment is more than 24 hours. Precautions after retinal detachment surgery: Within 2 weeks after retinal detachment surgery, you should follow the doctor’s instructions, rest in an appropriate position and limit your activities. Later, depending on the situation, normal human activities can usually be resumed. However, regular follow-up visits to the hospital are required. There is no special dietary contraindication. How to prevent retinal detachment? From the previous introduction, we have understood that primary retinal detachment occurs under certain triggers. The common triggers are strenuous activity and trauma. Therefore, patients with myopia, especially high myopia, should pay attention to avoid trauma, especially head trauma, and pay attention to protection in life. Avoid jumping, sudden rotation, heavy lifting and prolonged head bowing. Patients with high myopia should also pay attention to regular checkups even without the above-mentioned symptoms to detect retinal degeneration and atrophy in a timely manner and, if necessary, undergo preventive laser treatment. If retinal detachment is detected and treated early, the treatment effect is good and there are no obvious sequelae. Therefore, if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from this disease, you do not need to be overly nervous, but actively seek medical advice and follow it to have a good vision recovery. Finally, we wish each of us can care for our health and eyes.