Retinal detachment
At AOA体育平台 Eye Centre, we understand the impact retinal detachment can have on your vision and quality of life. Our expert team of consultants are dedicated to assessing and treating retinal detachment.
What is retinal detachment?
A retinal detachment is when your retina (the layer of tissue at the back of the eye that reflects light and enables you to see) detaches from the tissues that support it.
While the condition is painless, it can be an emergency. One factor is that a retinal detachment means that the retina is separated from the layer of blood vessels that provide oxygen and nourishment to the eye. As a result, the longer a retinal detachment goes untreated, the greater your risk of a permanent loss of vision in the affected eye.
There are three types of retinal detachment:
- rhegmatogenous
- tractional
- exudative
What causes retinal detachment?
The most common causes of retinal detachment are ageing or an eye injury. However, the ultimate cause depends on the type of detachment you鈥檙e experiencing:
- rhegmatogenous 鈥� the most common type, which occurs when the vitreous (the gel-like fluid in your eye) shrinks and thins with age. This can lead to pulling on the retina and cause a tear or hole. This tear lets the fluid leak through and collects behind your retina. The retina then pulls away, causing it to detach from the back of your eye. Short-sighted or myopic eyes are more susceptible to this type of detachment
- tractional 鈥� this type is mostly caused by diabetes. Extended periods of high blood sugar can result in damage to the blood vessels in your eye and cause scar tissue. This scar tissue can ultimately pull your retina away from the back of your eye
- exudative 鈥� this type of retinal detachment occurs when fluid builds up behind the retina, despite the lack of a retinal tear. The main causes of this fluid build-up are leaking blood vessels or inflammation of the eye due to a condition like uveitis
Retinal detachment diagnosis
Retinal detachment requires urgent assessment to determine the best treatment plan. In our dedicated outpatient facility, we are able to assess retinal breaks and retinal detachments.
To accurately assess retinal detachment, an eye care specialist will perform a dilated eye exam. This involves putting eye drops in your eyes to dilate (or widen) your pupils, so that they can take a closer look at your retina.
Occasionally, we may also perform other imaging tests to get a clear look at your retinal structure. These include:
- optical coherence tomography (OCT) 鈥� OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique which produces a detailed cross-sectional map of the retina
- fundus imaging 鈥� this type of imaging takes wide-angle images of your retina
- eye (ocular) ultrasound 鈥� the ultrasound technician may use drops to numb your eyes before gently placing an instrument against the front of your eye to scan it. This process will be repeated with your eyes closed to create an image of the inside of your eye
- computed tomography (CT) scan 鈥� a CT scan can help to identify the structure of your eye and is usually used if you have a history of an eye injury or trauma
After assessment of your retinal detachment, our expert team will recommend a treatment plan.
If a sudden onset retinal detachment is diagnosed, the eye may require urgent surgery in our dedicated day case unit. If the retina has not yet detached then laser treatment in our outpatient facility can be arranged.
* We offer fast appointments Monday - Friday only.
Retinal detachment treatments
If you鈥檝e experienced a retinal break without a full retinal detachment, it can be treated with laser therapy in our outpatient clinic. During laser therapy, the laser creates a scar which seals the tear in your retina.
However, if you have a full retinal detachment, you may be required to have urgent surgery. The approach your surgeon takes will depend on how severe the detachment is.
During vitrectomy (also known as vitreo-retinal surgery), your surgeon will replace the vitreous (gel-like fluid in the eye) pulling on the retina with a gas, air or an oil bubble to push the retina into place so that it can heal properly. If an oil bubble is used, your surgeon will need to remove it a few months later.
This is either performed under a local or general anaesthetic and is a day-case procedure, so you should be able to go home on the same day.
If your retinal detachment is small, a gas bubble can be injected without removing any of the vitreous in a pneumatic retinopexy. The bubble of gas in your eye pushes your retina back into place so that it can heal.
The gas eventually spontaneously reabsorbs, but whilst the gas is in the eye, you must not fly in an aeroplane at high altitudes as the gas will expand and cause increased pressure within the eye. Driving will also be difficult and should be avoided with gas inside the eye.
As your eye heals, your body will make fluid to fill the eye and replace the gas bubble. This is a day-case procedure performed with local anaesthetic, meaning you鈥檒l be able to go home on the same day.
A band of rubber or soft plastic is sewn to the outside of your eyeball to gently press the eye inward and help the detached retina heal against the eye wall. The scleral buckle isn鈥檛 visible on the eye and is usually left on permanently. On rare occasions, it requires removal due to either double vision or extrusion of the buckle.
This is a day-case procedure, either performed under a local or general anaesthetic, so you should be able to return home on the same day.
Our goal is to provide you with comprehensive care, helping you regain healthy eyes and improve your quality of life.