Q: What causes a retinal detachment & what can I do to prevent it?

A. A retinal detachment is a serious condition in which the retina tears from its underlying supportive tissue within the eye. Retinal detachments can be caused by traumatic eye injuries and have been linked to extreme nearsightedness. In the majority of cases, however, retinal detachments are the result of retinal tears.

Most retinal tears are caused by the vitreous gel located in the eye. As the vitreous gel shrinks over time, it tends to separate or pull from the retina. While this causes some individuals to see strange flashes of light, others may begin to see “floaters” or shadows of material floating around in the separated gel.

Sometimes, when the vitreous gel is stuck tightly to the retina, its separation tears the retina. When the retina tears, the vitreous gel can then pass through the tear and accumulate behind the retina. The build-up of fluid can cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye.

Predicting the likelihood of a retinal tear be likened to foreseeing the effect of tearing a piece of tape from a piece of paper; you have know way of knowing whether the tape will come off cleanly or tear the paper.
Likewise, when the gel separates from the retina, nobody can predict if it will tear the retina.

Unfortunately, there is really nothing you can do to prevent a retinal detachment. The best form of treatment for a retinal detachment is early detection. Therefore, you should have your eyes examined thoroughly if you suddenly begin to see unusual of flashes of light or “floaters.” If your eye doctor finds any retinal tears, these can be treated via lasers as an outpatient (i.e., “in office”) procedure. If you wait too long before you see an eye doctor, however, the tear may cause a retinal detachment. The only treatment option for a retinal detachment is undergoing major surgery.

Retinal detachments can happen to people without any trauma or explanation.
While a small percentage of people can say they have a family history of retinal tears and/or detachments, there is no direct correlation between genetics and retinal detachments. As stated previously, early detection and treatment of retinal tears is truly the best way to prevent a retinal detachment.

Dr. Gupta is Board certified in ophthalmology and fellowship trained in retinal surgery. He is a member of the Medical Staff at Pocono Medical Center and practices at RetinaCare Associates, Inc. in Stroudsburg.