Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is a rare condition that can lead to blindness if left untreated. If you experience symptoms such as flashes of light and tingling in the field of vision or sudden vision loss, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

What is retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment (amotio retinae) is when the retina detaches from the substrate. The retina is a thin membrane that lines the inside of the eye, and it is the layer on the eye that captures visual impressions. When the retina detaches, you experience vision loss in the area where it has detached.

Anyone can get retinal detachment, but it is most common in the elderly. In general, this is considered a rare condition, with approximately 1 in 10,000 affected individuals each year.

Retinal detachment is divided into three different types:

• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Tears in the retina as a result of increasing age. This is the most common type.

• Traction-related retinal detachment. Scar tissue pulls and tugs at the retina.

• Exudative retinal detachment. Accumulation of fluid in the space below the retina.

Cause of retinal detachment?

As a result of a hole in the retina occurring, fluid from the vitreous body in the eye will seep through the hole, and thus the retina will detach. Here, the sensory cells that are affected will lose their connection to the brain, so that they cannot transmit visual impressions further. Then the brain will not register these, and it will be experienced as vision loss.

Causes and risk factors for retinal detachment:

• Increasing age.

• Previous retinal detachment.

• Myopia.

• Retinal detachment in the family.

• Underwent cataract surgery.

• Damage to the eye. This can both result in retinal detachment immediately, and after weeks and months due to scarring and traction.

• Diabetic retinopathy (rare).

• Malignant tumor (rare).

• Certain inflammatory conditions affecting the retina (rare).

Symptoms of retinal detachment

• Painless vision loss.

• Worse acuity.

• The field of vision is gradually reduced.

• Can be experienced as a shadow that follows the eye movements, or a curtain that is drawn over part of the field of vision.

• Visual disturbances such as flashes of light, dots and moving blurs in the field of vision.

Disease course in retinal detachment

Often, symptoms of retinal detachment will appear suddenly, in contrast to conditions where symptoms build up gradually. You may experience that there is suddenly something in your field of vision that was not there before. Many may feel that they have had "forewarnings" where they have been troubled by blurring of the field of vision such as dots and flashes of light, before vision loss occurs.

Treatment

Retinal detachment is treated with surgery where an attempt is made to attach the retina to the eye again. The aim is to save as much of the sight as possible. Approximately 90 percent of operations against retinal detachment are successful, and the chance of a successful result increases the earlier you receive treatment. The remaining 10 percent require two or more operations to reattach the retina, while in a few this will not be possible at all.

When should you contact a doctor for retinal detachment?

If you suspect that you have had a retinal detachment, you should contact a doctor immediately as it must be treated as quickly as possible. This is because untreated retinal detachment can lead to blindness. Either you contact your regular GP to get a referral, or you can contact a private ophthalmologist directly.

Sources: Norwegian drug handbook, Emergency room handbook, Norwegian health informatics, Pocket doctor.