Which of the following symptoms would occur in a client with a detached retina?

There are many causes of retinal detachment, but the most common are ageing or myopia (short sightedness).

Most retinal detachments happen because a tear or hole in the retina allows fluid to leak between the retinal layers, lifting the retina off the back of the eye. Changes to the eye as you age can cause tears and holes because the retina has been pulled and torn as a result of these changes.

Tears mostly happen when the vitreous gel that fills the middle of the eye suddenly becomes detached from the retina (called acute posterior vitreous detachment or PVD). Most PVDs however don’t result in retinal detachment.

Other eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy can result in fibrous scar tissue forming inside the vitreous gel and on the retina’s surface. This scar tissue can then pull on the retina (traction), causing a detachment.

Who is at risk for retinal detachment?

While rare, retinal detachment can happen to anyone, but some people are at a higher risk. You are at a higher risk if:

• You are aged over 60
• You or a family member has had retinal detachment previously
• You’ve had a serious eye injury
• You have diabetic retinopathy
• You have extreme near-sightedness (myopia).

If you have any of the above risk factors, you should know the warning signs and seek immediate attention if you have any of them.

What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?

If only a small part of your retina has detached, you may not have any symptoms. But if more of your retina is detached, you may not be able to see as clearly as normal and you may notice other symptoms including:

• A sudden increase in number and size of floaters
• A sudden appearance of flashes of light in one or both eyes
• A shadow appearing in your peripheral (side) vision
• Seeing a gray curtain moving across your field of vision
• A sudden decrease in your vision.

Many people have flashes and floaters and this is normal for their age, however, if you experience flashes or floaters for the first time, or your usual flashes and floaters change, then you should have your eyes examined immediately.

How is retinal detachment diagnosed?

Your ophthalmologist can diagnose retinal tear or retinal detachment during an eye examination by dilating your eyes’ pupils.

An ultrasound of your eye may also be performed and can help your ophthalmologist see the exact position of your retina.

How is retinal detachment treated?

A retinal detachment is treated with surgery to place the retina back in its proper position. If this is not done, the retina will lose the ability to function, possibly permanently, and blindness will result.

Retinal detachment surgery is individual to each case. The type of surgery will depend on the type and location of your detachment and any complicating factors, such as other eye conditions you have.

Your ophthalmologist will discuss all the surgical options available and advise you on which procedure would be most advantageous for you. You should ensure you discuss these treatments thoroughly with your ophthalmologist and that you understand what is involved both in the surgery and post-surgery.

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What Is a Detached Retina?

A detached retina is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye. The retina does not work when it is detached, making vision blurry. A detached retina is a serious problem. An ophthalmologist needs to check it out right away, or you could lose sight in that eye.

How Do You Get a Detached Retina?

As we get older, the vitreous in our eyes starts to shrink and get thinner. As the eye moves, the vitreous moves around on the retina without causing problems. But sometimes the vitreous may stick to the retina and pull hard enough to tear it. When that happens, fluid can pass through the tear and lift (detach) the retina.

Who Is at Risk for a Retinal Detachment?

You are more likely to have a detached retina if you:

• need glasses to see far away (are nearsighted)
• have had cataract, glaucoma, or other eye surgery
• take glaucoma medications that make the pupil small (like pilocarpine)
• had a serious eye injury
• had a retinal tear or detachment in your other eye
• have family members who had retinal detachment
• have weak areas in your retina (seen by an eye doctor during an exam)

Early Signs of a Detached Retina

A detached retina has to be examined by an ophthalmologist right away. Otherwise, you could lose vision in that eye. Call an ophthalmologist immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

• Seeing flashing lights all of a sudden. Some people say this is like seeing stars after being hit in the eye.
• Noticing many new floaters at once. These can look like specks, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision.
• A shadow appearing in your peripheral (side) vision.
• A gray curtain covering part of your field of vision.

How Is a Detached Retina Diagnosed?

Your ophthalmologist will put drops in your eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. Then they will look through a special lens to check your retina for any changes.

How Is a Detached Retina Treated?

Surgery is done to repair a detached retina. Here are some types of detached retina surgery:

Pneumatic Retinopexy

Your ophthalmologist puts a gas bubble inside your eye. This pushes the retina into place so it can heal properly. Afterwards, you will need to keep your head in a very specific position as your doctor recommends for a few days. This keeps the bubble in the right place. As your eye heals, your body makes fluid that fills the eye. Over time, this fluid replaces the gas bubble.

Vitrectomy

Your ophthalmologist removes the vitreous pulling on the retina. The vitreous will be replaced with an air, gas, or oil bubble. The bubble pushes the retina into place so it can heal properly. If an oil bubble is used, your ophthalmologist will remove it a few months later. With an air or gas bubble, you cannot fly in an airplane, travel to high altitudes or scuba dive. This is because altitude change causes the gas to expand, increasing eye pressure.

Scleral Buckle

A band of rubber or soft plastic is sewn to the outside of your eyeball. It gently presses the eye inward. This helps the detached retina heal against the eye wall. You will not see the scleral buckle on the eye. It is usually left on the eye permanently.

What Are the Risks of Surgery for Detached Retina?

All surgery has risks of problems. But if you do not treat a detached retina, you could quickly and permanently lose your sight. Here are some of the risks of surgery for detached retina:

• Eye infection
• Bleeding in your eye
• Increased pressure inside the eye, which can lead to glaucoma
• Cataract, when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy
• Need for a second surgery
• Chance that the retina does not reattach properly
• Chance that the retina detaches again

Your ophthalmologist will discuss these and other risks and how surgery can help you. Things to expect after surgery:

• You might have some discomfort for a few a days to weeks after surgery. You will be given pain medicine to help you feel better.
• You need to rest and be less active after surgery for a few weeks. Your ophthalmologist will tell you when you can exercise, drive or do other things again.
• You will need to wear an eye patch after surgery. Be sure to wear it as long as your doctor tells you to.
• If a bubble was put in your eye, you will need to keep your head in one position for a certain length of time, such as 1–2 weeks. Your doctor will tell you what that specific head position is. It is very important to follow the directions so your eye heals.
• You might see floaters and flashing lights for a few weeks after surgery. You may also notice the bubble in your eye.
• Your sight should begin to improve about four to six weeks after surgery. It could take months after surgery for your vision to stop changing. Also, your retina may still be healing for a year or more after surgery. How much your vision improves depends on the damage the detachment caused to the cells of the retina.

Which symptom would occur in a client with a detached retina?

What happens when your retina detaches?

What are the symptoms of a retinal tear?

What are the warning signs of a detached retina NHS?