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| Signs And Symptoms Of Retinal Detachment |
What is retinal detachment? The retina is the light-sensitive tissue that lies smoothly against the inside back wall of your eye. Underneath the retina is the choroid, a thin layer of blood vessels that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the retina. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from this underlying layer of blood vessels. Unless the detached retina is surgically reattached, you may permanently lose your vision in the affected eye.
Floaters, flashes and retinal detachments
At the root of this eye disorder are changes to the jellylike vitreous that fills the vitreous cavity of your eye. Over time your vitreous may change in consistency and partially liquefy. It may also begin to shrink. The partial liquefaction may progress to a point where the vitreous sags and separates from the surface of the retina. This is called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), or vitreous collapse. It's a common condition and occurs to some extent in most people's eyes as they age.
PVD usually doesn't cause serious problems. The shifting or sagging vitreous may cause the appearance of new or different floaters in your field of vision. What looks like spots, specks, hairs and strings actually are small clumps of gel, fibers and cells floating in the vitreous. And what you're seeing are the shadows that this material casts on the retina. Common floaters appear gradually over time and, while annoying, are rarely a problem. They hardly ever require treatment.
If the vitreous pulls on the retina as it shifts and sags, you may see flashes of sparkling lights (photopsia) when your eyes are closed or you're in a darkened room. The phenomenon lasts for only a few seconds.
However, floaters and flashes can signal a more serious eye problem, particularly it they appear suddenly and with great intensity. When the pull of a sagging vitreous is strong enough, the retina may tear, leaving what looks like a small, jagged flap in the retina. Most tears occur along the periphery of the retina. That's where the vitreous is more firmly attached and can't separate without tugging hard. Such tears can lead to retinal detachment.
Retinal detachment occurs when vitreous liquid starts to leak under the retina at places opened by the tears. Leakage can also occur at tiny holes where the retina has thinned due to aging or other retinal disorders. As liquid collects, the areas of the retina surrounding these defects may begin to peel away from the underlying layer, the choroid. Over time these detached areas may expand, like wallpaper that, once torn, slowly peels off a wall. The areas where the retina is detached lose their ability to see.
Not all tears and holes in the retina lead to retinal detachment. Sometimes the retina by these defects remains attached to the choroid relatively well. But detachment that goes undetected and untreated can progress and eventually involve the entire retina with complete loss of vision.
Signs and symptoms
Retinal detachment is painless, but visual symptoms almost always appear before it occurs. Here are some warning signs:
- The sudden appearance of many floaters
- A sensation of flashing lights that usually occurs in one eye but can be in both eyes at the same time
- A shadow over a portion of your visual field
- Blurred vision
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| Signs And Symptoms Of Retinal Detachment |
Because most tears occur along the periphery of the retina, blurring may be noticeable initially in your peripheral vision.
When your retina tears, small blood vessels may be broken, letting blood seep into the vitreous and causing hazy vision or specks that appear to float before your eyes. If the floaters appear suddenly as a cloud of spots or a spider web and are accompanied by flashes of light, see your ophthalmologist immediately - you may have the beginnings of a retinal detachment. Prompt ophthalmologic attention is necessary to save your vision. To find out more, you can check out Signs And Symptoms Of Retinal Detachment.