A retinal detachment sounds scary and serious, and it is. It is a vision-threatening emergency, and you should get treatment as soon as possible. Let’s learn more about the types and causes of retinal detachment and the symptoms should they happen to you.
What Happens During a Retinal Detachment?
A retinal detachment is when the retina in the back of your eye moves from its natural position.
The retina lines the back wall of the eye and acts as the film like in a camera. It doesn’t work if it becomes detached, and vision is blurred.
The detachment will cause blindness in that eye if it is not treated promptly. Treatment for a retinal detachment is a surgical procedure to return the retina to its normal position.
3 Types of Retinal Detachment
Rhegmatogenous
Rhegmatogenous is the most common type of retinal detachment and is caused by a tear or break in the retina. This is mostly due to aging.
Tractional
The tractional type of detachment is due to scar tissue pulling the retina away from the back of the eye. The main reason is usually diabetic retinopathy.
Exudative
The exudative type happens when fluid builds up behind the retina, but without any tears or breaks. It simply occurs due to fluid getting trapped behind the retina.
Main causes include a tumor in the eye, age-related macular degeneration, injury or trauma to your eye, and inflammation inside the eye.
The Causes of Retinal Detachment
There are a number of reasons why a retina detaches.
The most common cause is aging. The white gel that fills our eyes is called vitreous. As we get older, the vitreous may change in texture and shrink pulling on the retina leading to a tear. As a result, the vitreous can get behind your retina and push it away from the back of your eye causing it to detach.
Other reasons and increased risk factors include the following:
- If you had a serious eye injury
- If you are nearsighted
- If you have a family history of retinal detachment
- If you had cataracts or glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
Symptoms of Retinal Detachment
Everyone gets occasional floaters in their eyes, but if you get a rush of them or more than ever before, this can be a sign of a retinal detachment. If you see stars like someone just hit you in the eye, this is a second sign of trouble. The third sign is a curtain or dark spot in your side or central vision.
Don’t wait to seek care from the experts at Retina Specialists of Tampa.
Protect Yourself From a Retinal Detachment
Visit Retina Specialists of Tampa regularly for a fully dilated eye exam especially if you are 40 years old and older.
The physicians and the staff at Retina Specialists of Tampa are dedicated to providing the highest standards of care in the treatment of eye diseases. As retina specialists with many years of experience, Dr. Tarabishy and Dr. Dunn are committed to excellence in patient care. We specialize in the pain-free treatment of the most challenging retinal disease cases and continuously work to provide our patients with the best possible experience, and the best possible outcome.
Contact us today at (813) 973-3333 if you are having any early symptoms of a retinal detachment. You can also request an appointment through our secure online form to schedule a consultation in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or Lakeland.
