Retinal Detachments Specialist

What is a retinal detachment?

Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue in the back part of your eye. It converts light into impulses that your brain interprets as images. When your retina suddenly detaches — pulls away from blood vessels that oxygenate and nourish it — permanent vision loss can occur.

What are the symptoms of a retinal detachment?

If you suffer a retinal detachment, you could experience sudden:

• Flashes of light
• Floaters (tiny drifting specs in your eye)
• Impaired vision
• Blurry vision
• Visual field shadows
• Reduced peripheral (side) vision

Seeking immediate medical treatment from retinal specialists offers you the best chance of saving your eyesight.

What are the risk factors for retinal detachment?

While a retinal detachment can happen to anybody, the following factors increase your risk of developing it:

• Extreme nearsightedness
• Family history of retinal detachment
• Being older than 50
• Previous retinal detachment
• Previous eye injury
• Past eye surgery
• Weak areas within the retina
• Eye diseases
• Use of some glaucoma medications

Routine eye exams at Retina Consultants Ltd. can detect eye issues before a retinal detachment or other serious eye complications occur.

How is a retinal detachment diagnosed?

To diagnose retinal detachment, your ophthalmologist reviews your medical history and symptoms. They complete a comprehensive dilated eye exam using a brightly lit instrument and a special lens to examine the back of your eye. Your eye doctor can also use ultrasound imaging to get a better view of your retina and make a final diagnosis.

How is retinal detachment treated?

Your personalized retinal detachment treatment plan is based on the severity of your condition. Your ophthalmologist could recommend:

Laser treatment

Your surgeon uses a laser to create scar tissue and repair a retinal tear.

Cryotherapy

Your provider numbs your eye and freezes its surface to create scar tissue that secures your retina to the wall of the eye.

Injections

Injecting a bubble of gas into your eye pushes the retina against the wall of your eye.

Surgery

Surgical procedures allow your ophthalmologist to relieve retinal tugging and restore its original structure. They might remove the gellike vitreous portion of your eye and inject air, silicone, or gas into the space to reposition the retina.

Don’t let a retinal detachment lead to vision loss. At the first sign of vision changes, schedule an appointment with Retina Consultants Ltd. over the phone or online today.