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The Definition of Retinal
Detachment
Retinal Detachment is a separation of the retina (the inner nervous tunic of
the eye) from the choroid (the middle, vascular tunic of the eye) in the back of
the eye, usually resulting from a hole in the retina that allows the vitreous
humor (fluid) to leak between the choroid and the retina.
Description of Retinal
Detachment
The retina is a thin, transparent tissue of light-sensitive nerve fibers and
cells. It covers the inside wall of the eye the same as wallpaper covers the
walls of a room.
Most retinal detachments are caused by the presence of one or more small
tears or holes in the retina. Normal aging can sometimes cause the retina to
thin and deteriorate, but more often shrinkage of the vitreous body, the clear
gel-like substance which fills the center of the eye, is responsible for
deterioration and retinal tears.
The vitreous is firmly attached to the retina in several places around the
back wall of the eye. As the vitreous shrinks, it may pull a piece of the retina
away with it, leaving a tear or hole in the retina.
Though some shrinkage of the vitreous body occurs naturally with aging and
usually causes no damage to the retina, abnormal growth of the eye (sometimes a
result of nearsightedness), inflammation or injury, may also cause the vitreous
to shrink. In most cases, a significant change in the structure of the vitreous
body occurs before the development of a retinal detachment.
Once a retinal tear is present, watery fluid from the vitreous space may pass
through the hole and flow between the retina and the back wall of the eye. This
separates the retina from the back of the eye and causes it to detach. The
part of the retina that is detached will not work properly and there will be a
blindspot in vision.
Causes of Retinal
Detachment
Retinal detachment will affect about one out
of 10,000 people each year in the U.S. It 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, or whose
relatives had retinal detachments. A hard, solid blow to the eye may also cause
the retina to detach. Severe trauma to the eye, such as a contusion or a
penetrating wound, may be the cause, but in the great majority of cases, retinal
detachment is the result of internal changes in the vitreous chamber associated
with aging, or less frequently, with inflammation of the interior of the eye.
It should be noted that there are some retinal detachments that are caused by
other diseases, such as tumors, severe inflammations or complications of
diabetes. These so-called secondary detachments do not have holes or tears in
the retina, and treatment of the disease which caused the retinal detachment is
the only treatment which may allow the retina to return to its normal
position.
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