What is a Retinal Detachment?
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of our eye. Light rays are focused onto the retina through our cornea, pupil and lens. 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. The middle of our eye is filled with a clear gel called vitreous (vi-tree-us) that is attached to the retina.
Sometimes tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous will cast shadows on the retina, and you may sometimes see small dots, specks, strings or clouds moving in your field of vision. These are called floaters. You can often see them when looking at a plain, light background, like a blank wall or blue sky.
Due to the retina’s vital role in vision, damage to it can cause permanent blindness.
Retinal Detachment
Usually, the vitreous moves away from the retina without causing problems.
But sometimes the vitreous pulls hard enough to tear the retina in
one or more places.
The retina does not work when it is detached and vision becomes blurry. A
retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always causes
blindness unless it is treated with detached retina surgery.
As we get older, the vitreous may shrink and pull on the retina. When this happens, you may notice what look like flashing lights, lightning streaks or the sensation of seeing “stars.” These are called flashes.
Early recognition and treatment of these conditions by an experienced retinal specialist can maintain the health of the retina and preserve vision in most patients.
