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Retinal detachment was irreversible, but with the groundbreaking contributions of medical pioneers like Jules Gonin in the 1920s and Charles Schepens in the 1940s, surgical techniques have evolved, improving outcomes for patients
With the development of advanced repair methods such as scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy, and vitrectomy, retinal detachment is now far more manageable
Retinal detachment is a serious, vision-threatening condition that affects about 1 in 10,000 people. If not treated promptly, it can lead to permanent blindness. Historically, retinal detachment was irreversible, but with the groundbreaking contributions of medical pioneers like Jules Gonin in the 1920s and Charles Schepens in the 1940s, surgical techniques have evolved, improving outcomes for patients. With the development of advanced repair methods such as scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy, and vitrectomy, retinal detachment is now far more manageable. Dr. Ajay Sharma, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Eye-Q Eye Hospitals shares all you need to know:
Types and Causes of Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment can be categorized into three primary forms:
1. Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
The most frequently occurring type, this happens when a small tear or break appears in the retina, allowing the vitreous fluid from the eye’s center to leak underneath. The fluid buildup creates pressure, lifting the retina away from the eye’s interior lining, leading to detachment. Commonly associated with aging, where the vitreous gel contracts and pulls on the retina, causing tears, this type of detachment can also be influenced by factors like high myopia, eye injuries, or complications stemming from prior eye surgeries.
2. Tractional Retinal Detachment
This variant results from scar tissue forming on the retina’s surface, which gradually pulls the retina away from the back of the eye. It is commonly associated with advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy, where diabetes causes damage to retinal blood vessels. As the scar tissue tightens over time, it exerts enough tension to separate the retina. Tractional detachment may also arise from severe eye infections or inflammatory conditions that affect the eye.
3. Exudative Retinal Detachment
Unlike other types, exudative detachment occurs without any physical tears in the retina. Instead, fluid builds up beneath the retina due to leakage from blood vessels, often triggered by conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), tumors, injuries, or inflammatory eye disorders. As the fluid collects, it displaces the retina, causing it to detach from its normal position.
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Early signs of retinal detachment can include sudden flashes of light, the appearance of floaters (small specks or shadows), or a shadow covering part of the field of vision. Aging is a major risk factor, particularly for rhegmatogenous detachment, as the vitreous body changes in texture over time. Other risk factors include severe nearsightedness, eye surgery, trauma, and underlying health conditions such as diabetes, which can lead to tractional detachment.
Conditions like age-related macular degeneration or Coats disease may also increase the risk of exudative detachment. Individuals experiencing any warning signs should seek immediate ophthalmologic evaluation.
Treatment Options
Thanks to significant advances in ophthalmologic surgery, retinal detachment is no longer a condition with a grim prognosis. Surgical interventions vary based on the type and severity of the detachment. Scleral buckling involves indenting the eye’s surface to support the retina, while pneumatic retinopexy uses a gas bubble to reattach the retina. Vitrectomy, another effective method, involves removing the vitreous and replacing it with a saline solution to stabilize the retina. The success rate of these procedures has drastically improved, allowing many patients to regain functional vision, especially when diagnosed early. Regular eye examinations remain key to preventing vision loss.
