Retinal Detachment

A retinal detachment is an uncommon eye condition but is unfortunately a sight-threatening one.

If we imagine the eye as a large room with the retina (a neurosensory layer) as wallpaper, the vitreous humour (a gel-like substance) fills this room similarly as an inflated balloon would.

In your younger years, the vitreous is typically plump and voluminous, filling the eye to full capacity and is tightly adhered to the retina. Once one reaches 45+, the vitreous undergoes a liquification process (syneresis). In this process, the vitreous starts to prolapse and very much like a shrinking balloon, will deflate and detach from the wallpaper ie, the retina.

Once the vitreous starts to prolapse and detach from the retina, symptoms such as flashing lights, floaters and spiderwebs are common. The vitreous detachment process is not sight threatening, however can cause complications. If the vitreous is very strongly adhered to the retina, and tugs too hard, a small tear may develop. (ie. The balloon is stuck to the wallpaper and ends up tearing the wallpaper when trying to pull loose).

A retinal tear can progress into a retinal detachment and lift the retina from its underlying neural tissue layers. There are two classifications of a retinal detachment: macula-on and macula-off.

This is the sight threatening component – if the retinal detachment stretches all the way to the macula and detaches the macula from underlying neural tissue (macula-off detachment), it can result in permanent vision loss and distortions.

Most unfortunate, is that the symptoms for a simple vitreous detachment and those of a retinal detachment are identical! Meaning, should you experience any new flashes, floaters, spiderwebs or a black curtain obscuring your vision – seek medical attention from an Ophthalmologist immediately.

In most cases, either laser to seal the tear or eye surgery to repair the detachment are required. In both instances, treatment within 10 days is advised, as the visual prognosis improves the faster you receive treatment.