Retinal Detachment
What Is It?
The retina is the inner layer of the inside
of the eye, which processes the images that are focused on to it by
the cornea and the lens. In a detachment it peels away and separates
from the underlying layer it is attached to.
What Causes It?
It can happen spontaneously without any reason
whatsoever. A common cause however, is a blow to the head or eye area.
This may cause a tear or hole in the retina through which the internal
fluids of the eye leak, causing the retina to separate.
What Is The Effect On Vision?
 A
portion of the visual field is lost eg when looking straight ahead,
the area above, below or to the side might appear dark and shadowy.
The position and size of the missing area will depend on which portion
and how much of the retina has detached.
Central
vision becomes severely affected if the macula, the part of the retina
responsible for fine vision, becomes detached.
During
a detachment, bleeding from small retinal blood vessels may cloud
the jelly filling the interior of the eye, resulting in a sudden haze
and blotchy vision.
If treated in time, there is a good chance of preserving the sight.
Often however there is some degree of long term damage.
What Are The Symptoms?
A combination of the following usually occurs:
Persistent
flashing lights
A
sudden onset of multiple black and or red blots that float around
in front of you
A
shadow or veil across part of the vision in one eye
The last one of these is a strong indication that a retinal detachment
has occurred. The first two can also occur in the less serious condition
where only the jelly that fills the eye detaches, and not the retina
itself.
Who Is At Risk?
Anyone
who partakes in activities which involve trauma to the head or eyes
such as boxers, bungee jumpers
The
elderly, as they are more prone to falls. In addition the retinas
of older people are more fragile due to degeneration of retinal tissue
and therefore more prone to tearing.
Very
shortsighted people: the eyeballs of these individuals are longer
than average, resulting in the retina being thinned and stretched.
It is therfore more at risk of tearing.
Those
with a family history
Severe
diabetes: the eye grows abnormal internal blood vessels which pull
on the retina
What Is The Treatment?
A retinal detachment is a medical emergency
and must be treated very soon to prevent more of the tissue from detaching.
The treatment is a surgical procedure to seal the retina onto the
back of the eye again. It is bit like spot welding, and is done using
lasers or frozen probes.
Further Information
More information on Retinal Detachment is available by clicking these
links:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?printPage=1&articleId=317
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003661.hcsp
http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/Publicationsandresources/Informationforpatients
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| Retina with a detachment |
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| 'View seen with a detachment |
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