Discover more about this condition and how to treat it safely and effectively
A detached retina can cause sudden blindness. You should seek treatment as quickly as possible to avoid permanent damage.
The retina is a thin, light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. When a retinal detachment occurs, this layer is lifted up and peeled away from the back of the eye. This can be a medical emergency that needs to be treated, although not all are urgent.
Retinal detachment usually begins with a retinal tear or hole in the retina. When a small hole or tear occurs, fluid from the eye can seep into the space between the retina and the back of the eye, which peels the retina away further.
When the retina detaches from the back of the eye, it cannot function. This means that when the retina is partially detached, there is a gap in the vision. But when it is fully detached, the affected eye is completely blind.
Movement of the vitreous gel
The vitreous ‘gel’ within the eye tends to shrink with age and can pull on the retina. In some cases, the vitreous gel can peel the retina away from the back of the eye, resulting in a macular hole or retinal tear. This can progress into a retinal detachment if left untreated.
Injury or trauma
Very occasionally, an injury to the eye or trauma can result in a retinal detachment.
When a retinal detachment occurs, it usually results in sudden blindness. This can occur in the whole eye (or eyes) or just part of the eye. When retinal detachment occurs, it appears as if someone has pulled a curtain over part of your vision.
Quite often, before a detached retina occurs, you can experience a sudden increase in floaters and the appearance of flashes in your vision. However, there are other causes for these symptoms, so there’s no need to panic if you experience them.
However, it is important to be checked out by an eye specialist to identify whether a detached retina is the cause.
A detached retina does not cause any pain. Still, you should not delay in seeking medical help because if left untreated, the loss of vision can often be permanent.
A retinal tear
We can diagnose retinal detachment through dilated fundus examination and ultra-wide fundus camera.
The sooner we can treat a detached retina, the better the chance of a good outcome.
If a retinal tear is detected early, it can often be ‘welded’ down again with a laser or by freezing.
In the case of a retinal detachment, retinal detachment surgery is almost always necessary.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of retinal detachment include increased flashing, floaters and a curtain-like obstruction across the vision. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your eye care professional for an examination.
Am I more likely to get a retinal detachment if I wear glasses?
Wearing glasses for a low prescription does not increase your chances; however, high myopia is associated with an increased risk.
Do retinal detachments lead to blindness?
If untreated, retinal detachments can lead to significant vision loss. Vision loss can affect your peripheral vision as well as the central vision.
If one eye gets a retinal detachment, will the other eye get one too?
A retinal detachment is more likely to occur in your other eye if it was caused by an eye condition in the first eye. If an injury caused retinal detachment to just one of the eyes, then the chance of getting a detachment in the second eye is not increased.
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Learn more about treating retinal detachment from authoritative sources.
A detached retina is when the thin layer at the back of your eye (retina) becomes loose. It needs to be treated quickly to stop it permanently affecting your sight.
In this serious condition, your retina — a thin layer of nerve tissue in the back of your eye — pulls away from its normal spot.
There are three different types of retinal detachment:
- Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
- Tractional retinal detachment
- Exudative (serous) retinal detachment
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