Retinal Detachment

Summary

The retina is a layer of tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain. It provides the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A retinal detachment lifts or pulls the retina from its normal position. It can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over age 40. It affects men more than women and whites more than African Americans. A retinal detachment is also more likely to occur in people who:

• Are extremely nearsighted
• Have had a retinal detachment in the other eye
• Have a family history of retinal detachment
• Have had cataract surgery
• Have other eye diseases or disorders
• Have had an eye injury

Symptoms include an increase in the number of floaters, which are little “cobwebs” or specks that float about in your field of vision, and/or light flashes in the eye. It may also seem like there is a “curtain” over your field of vision.

A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If not promptly treated, it can cause permanent vision loss. If you have any symptoms, see an eye care professional immediately. Treatment includes different types of surgery.

NIH: National Eye Institute

National Eye Institute

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Retinal Detachment National Institutes of Health

Specifics

• Complex Retinal Detachment American Society of Retina Specialists

Start Here

• Detached Retina American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Retinal Detachment National Eye Institute

Diagnosis and Tests

• Dilating Eye Drops American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Statistics and Research

• Eye Health Data and Statistics National Eye Institute

Related Issues

• Facts about Floaters National Eye Institute
• Vitreous Detachment National Eye Institute

Find an Expert

• Find an Ophthalmologist American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Finding an Eye Doctor National Eye Institute
• National Eye Institute National Eye Institute

Images

• Flashes and Floaters VisualDX

Journal Articles

• Retinal Detachment

Patient Handouts

• Retinal detachment Medical Encyclopedia
• Retinal detachment repair Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Retinal detachment repair – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia