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Retinal Tear or Detachment
The Retina is a layer of millions of light-sensitive nerve cells that line the back wall inside of the eye. This layer receives and sends signals of organized visual information through the optic nerve to the brain so that you can see.
What Causes A Retinal Tear?
A Retinal Tear occurs when the clear, gel-like substance in the center of your eye (the vitreous) shrinks and tugs on the thin layer of tissue lining the back of your eye (the retina) with enough traction to cause a break in the tissue.
What Symptoms Should I Be Aware Of?
A retinal tear is often accompanied by the sudden onset of symptoms such as:
- Seeing floaters or flashes of light
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Defects in side vision
- Loss of vision or shadowed vision (curtain effect)
While a retinal tear might not be painful, it is extremely serious and gone untreated, it can lead to a retinal detachment.
What Causes A Retinal Detachment?
A Retinal Detachment is defined by the presence of fluid under the retina. A detachment usually occurs when fluid passes through a retinal tear, causing the retina to lift away from the underlying tissue layers.
As we age, the vitreous in our eyes starts to shrink and get thinner. Usually, the vitreous moves around on the retina without causing problems; however, if the vitreous sticks to the retina, it can pull hard enough to tear it. An untreated retinal tear can cause the retina to detach, and therefore, any symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.
How Are Retinal Tears and Detachments Treated?
A torn retina can be treated through Photocoagulation or Cryopexy methods:
Photocoagulation
Photocoagulation is done through a laser that creates tiny scars which seal the retina to the wall of the eye. The treatment usually takes less than 15 minutes and can be done right in our office.
Cryopexy
Cryopexy uses extreme cold to seal the retina to the wall of the eye with the goal of keeping fluid from going through the tear and detaching the retina. This treatment takes around 30 minutes and can be done in the office. Our surgeon will use a special probe that delivers intense cold energy to the retina. This freezes the retina around the tear and creates scar tissue which seals the retina to the eye wall.
Retinal detachments almost always require surgery to reattach the retina to the eye wall. Some of those surgical options are:
The recovery period after retinal reattachment surgery is typically 4 to 6 weeks. Your Frantz EyeCare specialist will provide you with very specific post-operative instructions which can include any activity restrictions, the optimum head position for the surgical healing process, recommendations for protective eyewear, and in some cases, dietary guidance that will benefit your overall health going forward.
