Retinal detachment

When the retina becomes detached from its underlying layer, we speak of a retinal detachment (ablatio retinae). This occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 people each year. It can occur at any age, but there are a number of risk factors that increase the chance of a retinal detachment.

• Older age
• Myopia (minus power)
• Retinal detachment in families
• After cataract surgery

Causes

A retinal detachment is caused by the presence of one or more tears in the retina. This can occur due to changes in the vitreous, over the years the vitreous can shrink and the attachments in the retina can cause holes. When a hole has formed, fluid can get between the retina and the deeper layers of the eye. This is a retinal detachment.

Phenomena

Often in middle age, black moving particles and/or flashes of light suddenly appear. This is called mouches volantes. These symptoms may indicate changes in the vitreous. The ophthalmologist or optometrist can examine whether the vitreous and retina are in order. Sometimes a retinal detachment starts without spots or flashes, but then one often notices a loss in the field of vision (a kind of curtain). Patients with this condition experience no pain. Loss of vision occurs because the center of the retina has detached or because the detached part of the retina has come to lie in front of the centre.

Treatment

The treatment for a small to moderate abnormality with a retinal tear is to “fix” the retina by means of laser treatment. The ophthalmologist can do this for you at our clinic.

A larger tear or retinal detachment must be operated on in a specialized eye center. The ophthalmologist will then refer you there.