Retinal Detachment and Retinal Tears

This disease, commonly known as a retinal tear and seen in about one in 10,000 people, is more frequent in middle-aged and older individuals, particularly in people with myopia and in close relatives of those with retinal detachment. If left untreated, it results in blindness. The most common cause of retinal detachment is retinal tears and holes. The fluid inside the eye, called the vitreous, passes through these holes and tears and separates the retina from the wall of the eye. This causes blind areas to appear in the field of vision. Patients often have black dots, flashes of light and dark areas.

How Is Retinal Detachment Diagnosed?

It is very important that a patient who notices black dots, flashes of light and dark areas in the field of vision urgently consults an ophthalmologist specialized in this field and is examined with an instrument called a retinal ophthalmoscope.

Retinal Detachment Treatment Approaches

Retinal tears detected at an early stage can be treated with argon laser. In delayed cases, particularly after detachment has occurred, the success rate with vitrectomy surgery is over 90%.