Retina Detachment

Retina Detachment

The retina is the multi-layered sensory and pigment tissue layer at the back of the eye that converts light rays into electrical impulses. These impulses are sent to the optic nerve and then to the brain where the image is processed. Retina detachment is when the sensory and pigment layers of retinal tissue separate, preventing images being processed and leading to vision loss.

Causes of retina detachment

Retina detachment is commonly caused by injury to the eye and retinal detachment can also occur gradually as a side effect of conditions such as diabetes. 

People with the vision impairment near-sightedness or myopia are more prone to retinal detachments as the retina tissue is thinner and more susceptible to damage.

Rarely, retina detachment can happen as a side effect of other eye surgery procedures such as cataract removal surgery.

Symptoms of retina detachment

Retina detachment can occur suddenly or symptoms can develop slowly as the retinal layers separate over time. Untreated retina detachment will cause sight loss and it is important patients visit and ophthalmologist as soon as any of the below symptoms develop:

• Blurred vision
• Floaters/Spots in vision - often appear as spider web shapes
• Watery eyes
• A shadow in the eye

Treatment for retina detachment

To prevent vision loss it is important that the retina is reattached as quickly as possible. Eye surgeons have three techniques to reattach the retina:

Pneumatic Retinopexy

The most commonly performed retinal reattachment surgery, a pneumatic retinopexy uses a combination of a gas bubble and laser eye surgery to restore vision. 

A gas bubble is injected into the vitreous gel of the eye; the fluid inside the front section of the eyeball. This bubble of gas applies pressure to the retinal tissues, pushing together the various layers. The gas is gradually absorbed into the eye. 

While the gas is in the eye, surgeons use laser eye surgery to secure the retinal tissues together and hold the retina in place. 

Scleral Buckle

This treatment is less commonly performed however it is used if retinal detachments are of a certain size and shape that is difficult to correct with pneumatic retinopexy. 

Scleral buckle involves placing a piece of silicon around the eyeball to hold the eyeball and the retina in place. The silicon is placed underneath the eyelids so it is not visible after surgery.

A vitrectomy, a procedure to remove the vitreous gel from the eye, may be needed following scleral buckle surgery.

Silicone Oil

If the above surgeries do not repair a retinal detachment or the detachment re-occurs, the surgeon may replace the vitreous gel in the eye with silicon oil. The silicon oil seals the retinal tissues together. Once the retina has repaired itself, the silicone is removed from the eye.