Retinal Detachments
A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. It happens when the thin nerve layer at the back of your eye (the retina) pulls away from its normal position. A retina that has detached is unable to "see". The longer it goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss in that eye.
The most common cause of a retinal detachment is a retinal tear or hole. Treating them can prevent a retinal detachment from occuring.
Symptoms of
a Retinal Detachment
Shower of New Floaters
A sudden increase in the number of lines, spots or cobweb-like shapes that appear to drift in your gaze.
Sudden Flashes of Light
Brief streaks of lightning or sparks, often at the edge of your vision, which can signal a tear in the retina.
Dark Curtain in Your Vision
A persistent shadow or 'curtain' that covers across your field of vision. This is the most serious, as it may be a sign of a retinal detachment.
Recognizing the early warning signs of a retinal detachment
can prevent permanent vision loss.
If you experience these symptoms, see an eye doctor immediately.
Causes of a Retinal Detachment
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Retinal tears or holes are the commonest cause of retinal detachment.
These occur when the vitreous gel in the eyeball degenerates, shrinks and pulls away from the retina, causing a rip or tear. This tear allows fluid to leak underneath the retina, causing the nerve layer to detach and peel off the back of the eyeball. The areas where the retina is separated becomes damaged, thus affecting vision.
Risk factors for a retinal tear include high myopia, injury and age.
Less Common Causes of a Retina Detachment include
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Diabetic eye disease
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Injury to the eye
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Ocular inflammation (uveitis)
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Ocular cancers / tumours
Treatment of Tears and Detachments
Retinal tears and detachments require precise laser and surgical intervention to preserve vision. At Singapore Eye & Vision, our specialists will assess you and advise on how best to manage these conditions.
Retinal Tears
Early intervention is needed to repair tears and holes before the retina has detached. The most common procedure to achieve this is with laser photocoagulation.
A laser beam is directed into the eye through a special contact lens or ophthalmoscope to make ‘burns’ around the retinal tear. These cause scarring around the tear which then seals the retina to the underlying tissue. Forming this seal will prevent fluid from leaking underneath the retina.
This is a safe and effective procedure that is performed as an outpatient service, on the same day.
Retinal Detachments
Retinal detachments are medical emergencies, and typically require surgery quickly in order to prevent vision loss.
During retinal detachment surgery, the surgeon will reattach the retina to the eyeball with various techniques, depending on the number and size of the retinal tears; the extent of the retinal detachment; and the presence of other factors such as bleeding or scarring of the retina. Details of the surgery will be discussed with you before the operation. The chances of successfully fixing the detachment, and how well your vision will recover, will also be explained.
The complexity of retinal detachment surgery requires this to be performed in an operating theatre, and under anesthesia.