The retina:

• The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue on the back wall of the eye
• The optical system of the eye focuses light on the retina much like light is focused on the film in a camera
• The retina translates this focused image into neural impulses and transmits them to the brain via the optic nerve

Retinal Detachment:

• Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue
• This happens when a tear occurs in the retina. Fluid passes through this tear and the retina detaches
• Detachment usually is localized at first, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision toss and blindness
• Retinal detachment needs urgent treatment

Causes of Retinal Detachment:

• Retinal detachment will affect about one out of 10 000 people each year
• This is a serious eye problem that may occur at any age, though usually it occurs in middle-aged or older individuals
• It is more likely to develop in people who are nearsighted, whose relatives had retinal detachments or in individuals who have had a retinal detachment in the other eye
• Trauma to the eye, such as blunt trauma or a penetrating wound
• In the majority of cases, retinal detachment is the result of internal changes in the vitreous fluid associated with aging, or less frequently, with inflammation of the interior of the eye
• There are some retinal detachments that are caused by other diseases, such as tumours, severe inflammations or complications of diabetes
• These secondary detachments do not always need surgery, but sometimes improve by treating the underlying cause

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment:

In most cases, retinal detachment develops slowly.
The first symptom is often the sudden appearance of a large number of spots floating loosely in the eye. You may also notice a curious sensation of flashing lights.
The retina does not contain sensory nerves that relay the sensation of pain, therefore the condition is painless.
Detachment usually begins at the thin peripheral edge of the retina and extends gradually towards the more central areas. The patient perceives a shadow that begins peripherally and grows in size, slowly encroaching on the central vision.
As long as the centre of the retina is unaffected, the vision when the person is looking straight ahead is normal, but when the centre becomes affected, the eyesight is distorted, wavy and indistinct.
If the process of detachment is not halted, total blindness of the eye ultimately results. The condition does not spontaneously resolve itself.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment:

A rhegmatogenous retinal detachment occurs due to a hole or tear in the retina that allows fluid to pass through the hole and detaches the retina.

Exudative, serous or secondary retinal detachment:

An exudative retinal detachment occurs due to inflammation, injury, tumour or vascular abnormalities that results in fluid accumulating underneath the retina without the presence of a hole, tear, or break.

Tractional retinal detachment:

A tractional retinal detachment occurs when scar tissue, caused by an injury, inflammation or diabetic retinopathy, pulls the sensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium.