| What is retina? | | | | between and separate sensory and RPE layers |
| The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that | | | | (ie, rhegmatogenous RD) |
| lines the inside of the eye and sends visual | | | | Traction from inflammatory or vascular fibrous |
| messages through the optic nerve to the brain. | | | | membranes on the surface of the retina, which |
| When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled | | | | tether to the vitreous |
| from its normal position. If not promptly treated, | | | | Exudation of material into the subretinal space |
| retinal detachment can cause permanent vision | | | | from retinal vessels such as in hypertension, |
| loss. | | | | central retinal venous occlusion, vasculitis, or |
| The retina is about the size of a postage stamp. | | | | papilledema |
| It consists of a central area called the macula and | | | | Detached retina will result in a loss of vision where |
| a much larger peripheral retina. The light receptor | | | | the retina has been damaged. A person’s |
| cells within the retina are of two types, called the | | | | retina may detach for many reasons. Retinal |
| rods and the cones. Rods allow us to see in | | | | detachment is more common among middle aged |
| reduced illumination. Cones provide us with | | | | people and short sighted people. Detached retina |
| sharpness of vision. The peripheral retina allows us | | | | may appear like a dark shadow over part of the |
| to see objects on either side (peripheral vision) | | | | eye or the person may experience bright flashes |
| and, therefore, provides the vision needed for a | | | | of light or showers of dark spots called floaters. |
| person to move about safely. | | | | These symptoms are not painful. Many people |
| Retinal detachment: | | | | experience flashes and floaters that are not |
| Retinal detachment may be caused by trauma, | | | | harmful and these are not necessarily a cause for |
| advanced diabetes or an inflammatory disorder. | | | | alarm. However, if they seem to be getting |
| But it often occurs spontaneously, as a result of | | | | worse and part of vision is reducing then the |
| changes in the jelly-like vitreous that fills the | | | | person needs to see an eye specialist urgently. In |
| vitreous cavity of your eye. | | | | many cases, the damage can be repaired. |
| In some cases there may be small areas of the | | | | Tears or holes in the retina may lead to retinal |
| retina that are torn. These areas, called retinal | | | | detachment by allowing fluid from the middle of |
| tears or retinal breaks, can lead to retinal | | | | the eye to collect under the retina. |
| detachment. | | | | Traction pulls the retina away from the layers |
| Retinal detachment refers to separation of the | | | | beneath it. |
| inner layers of the retina from the underlying | | | | No treatment has been shown to control central |
| retinal pigment epithelium (RPE, choroid). The | | | | retinal artery occlusion. However, an attempt is |
| choroid is a vascular membrane containing large | | | | made to release the occlusion into the peripheral |
| branched pigment cells sandwiched between the | | | | circulation. To reduce intraocular pressure, therapy |
| retina and sclera. Separation of the sensory retina | | | | includes acetazolamide I.V., eyeball massage, |
| from the underlying RPE occurs by the following 3 | | | | thrombolysis by intra-arterial injection or I.V., high |
| basic mechanisms: | | | | concentrations of inhaled oxygen, and anterior |
| A hole, tear, or break in the neuronal layer | | | | chamber paracentesis (to try to move the arterial |
| allowing fluid from the vitreous cavity to seep in | | | | obstruction into the peripheral field). |