services
Retinal Tear or Detachment
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of our eye. The retina converts the light rays into impulses that travel through the optic nerve to our brain, where they are interpreted as the images we see. A healthy, intact retina is key to clear vision. Floaters look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. They originate from a gel like substance that fills the inside of the eyeball behind the lens called vitreous. As we age, our vitreous gel starts to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands in it that appear as small, occasional floaters.
A retinal tear or a detached retina is repaired with a surgical procedure.
Risk For Retinal Detachment
- Nearsightedness
- Previous cataract, glaucoma or other eye surgery
- Glaucoma medications that make the pupil small (like pilocarpine)
- Severe eye injury
- Previous retinal detachment in the other eye
- Family history of retinal detachment
- Weak areas in the retina that can be seen by an ophthalmologist during an eye exam
- Learn more here
Torn Retina Surgery
Most retinal tears need to be treated by sealing the retina to the back wall of the eye with laser surgery or cryotherapy (a freezing treatment). Both of these procedures create a scar that helps seal the retina to the back of the eye. This prevents fluid from traveling through the tear and under the retina, which usually prevents the retina from detaching. These treatments cause little or no discomfort and can be performed in the office.
Detached Retina Surgery
Almost all patients with retinal detachments must have surgery to place the retina back in its proper position. Otherwise, the retina will lose the ability to function, possibly permanently, and blindness can result. The method for fixing retinal detachment depends on the characteristics of the detachment.