Retinal detachment
Retinal detachment refers to a condition in which the neurosensory tissue of the eye - the retina – pulls away from its natural position and causes a sharp deterioration in visual acuity.
Symptoms
It is important to know the symptoms that may occur in the early stages of retinal detachment. The detachment often begins asymptomatically, although some patients notice many “floaters” that suddenly appear in the field of view. It is also important to pay attention to the so-called flashes. Along with retinal detachment, a distinctly dark curtain-like shadow appears in the field of view. This is already a sign of retinal detachment progression.
Thus, the warning signs are:
- Tiny black specks that appear in the field of view
- Unreasonable flares (photopia)
- Deterioration of visual acuity
- A curtain-like shadow in the field of view
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the signs described above. Without timely treatment, retinal detachment you can permanently lose your vision. Keep in mind! Contacting an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) immediately will help you maintain your vision.
Risk factors
The risk group includes the elderly, people with diabetes and various systemic diseases and myopia.
In addition to the above, the risk factors for retinal detachment are:
- Eye trauma
- Family history of retinal detachment
Other eye diseases:
- Uveitis
- Entophthalmitis
- Peripheral retinal degeneration (thinning)
Diagnosis
Microscopic examination of the fundus of the eye is required to diagnose retinal detachment. Ultrasound examination (B-scan) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are also very informative.
Treatment
In the early stages of retinal detachment it is possible to stop its progression by laser photocoagulation. The retina in the vicinity of the detachment is walled off by a laser, which in many cases will stop the progression of retinal detachment in the future.
If the patient is referred to a specialist when a large part of the retina has already been detached, the only treatment is surgery. Unfortunately, after detachment, the retina will never return to its place without surgery. The complexity and duration of the operation are related to the severity of the retinal detachment. The earlier the operation is organized, the higher is the prospect of maintaining visual function. The operation involves returning the detached retina to its place, securing it with a laser, and a so-called tamponade, which allows the affected area to heal the tissue beneath it. Special gas or silicone oil is mainly used for tamponade.
Postoperative period
The postoperative period does not include any difficult restrictions. The patient will be prescribed eye drops for 3-4 weeks. For a few days the patient may need to be in a forced position, such as with the head bowed. The patient may also be advised which side to put the head on while sleeping during this period, but very soon the patient returns to a normal routine.
Prevention
It is important that individuals in the risk group undergo a thorough ophthalmologic examination periodically. It is also important that patients do not delay consulting a specialist if the above symptoms occur, which will allow to diagnose the disease at an early stage and start treatment on time.
