Retinal detachment is a serious condition that can lead to severe visual impairment or eventotal blindness in the affected eye. If any part of the retina is lifted or pulled from its normalposition, it is considered detached, and will cause some vision loss. The detachment willalmost always progress, and vision loss will increase until it is treated. Therefore, retinaldetachment is always considered an emergency.
Retinal detachment is caused by a combination of factors including retinal holes, retinalbreaks, or retinal tears, and liquefaction of the vitreous humor. Any tiny tears or holes in theretina can allow vitreous fluid to seep under the retina, separating it from the back wall ofthe eye (like wallpaper). Retinal tears may also result from a hard blow or injury to the eye,though this is rather rare.
Detachment is more likely to occur if the other eye has the condition (such as latticedegeneration) associated with retinal detachment in the first eye. If only one eye suffers aserious injury or requires eye surgery then, of course, the chance of detachment in the othereye is not increased by the event.
Because retinal tears and detachments are not visible from the outside of the eye, onlya comprehensive eye exam can detect them. Your eye doctor will use a light magnificationinstrument to view the inside of your eye. Your eye doctor may also use certain types ofmagnification lenses, a slit lamp or ultrasound to diagnose retinal tears or detachments.
