Q: What are the warning signs of a detached retina?

Ask Our Expert About Detached Retinas

About Our Expert

Maz Kazahaya, M.D., is an ophthalmologist and retina specialist with Lehigh Valley Health Network.

• What are the warning signs of a detached retina?
• If I experience these symptoms, what should I do?
• Are there certain conditions that put me at risk?
• What causes retinal detachment in healthy people?
• If I am diagnosed with a detached retina, how is it treated?
• Following surgery, how long will it take for my vision to be fully restored?
• If surgery is unsuccessful, what’s my next step?

Q: What are the warning signs of a detached retina?

A: Look out for new flashes of light, new floaters or a decrease in vision. If you start to develop a retinal detachment, a corner of your vision might be closing in, or your nose might seem like it’s getting bigger because you’re getting a dark area where your nose would be.

Q: If I experience these symptoms, what should I do?

A: You should see an ophthalmologist within a few days to have your retina checked out. What will often happen is your ophthalmologist will refer you to a retina specialist to have your peripheral retina checked out further. A magnifying instrument to look at the back inside lining of your eye will be used during the exam.

Q: Are there certain conditions that put me at risk?

A: There are some hereditary conditions, like thin retinas, that can lead to a detached retina. However, most detached retina is caused by thinning of the retina. People with diabetes develop a different kind of detached retina from scar tissue. New blood vessels growing in the back of the eye can lead to bleeding and scarring on the surface of the retina. That leads to traction on the retina, which causes detachment.

Q: What causes retinal detachment in healthy people?

A: For most healthy people they will have some sort of predisposing condition or problem like being very nearsighted. Their retina tends to be thinner and that can make them more likely develop retinal tears and then detachment. But most people with this condition are elderly. As we age, the Jello-like substance inside the eye (vitreous) becomes liquefied and can separate from the retina, causing a tear. Usually the back lining of the vitreous separates from the retina. In people under age 40, trauma to the eye or a direct shot to the eye due to a sports injury is the most common cause.

Q: If I am diagnosed with a detached retina, how is it treated?

A: Treatment depends on the appearance of the detachment, how long it’s been there and the amount of tears. There are three basic ways of repairing a retinal detachment. The first, for a detachment in the upper half of the retina, is a procedure that can be done in the office called pneumatic retinopexy. We use a small gas bubble that is injected inside the eye and floats the retina back into place and holds the retinal tears closed.

With a more extensive detachment or if you have multiple tears in different locations, there are two other types of surgeries that are options (scleral buckling surgery or vitrectomy surgery). If a detachment is very extensive, both types of surgery can be used.

Q: Following surgery, how long will it take for my vision to be fully restored?

A: Usually six to eight weeks.

Q: If surgery is unsuccessful, what’s my next step?

A: Surgery is usually successful. There are times when the retina will re-detach or it will not be able to be repaired with the first surgery, and a second surgery would be needed. Some patients develop a new tear in a new location, but if it’s the same area and the same detachment more invasive surgery may be needed.

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