Retinal Tears and Detachment

A retinal tear is an irregularly shaped break in the retina. A retinal detachment is separation of the retina from the eye wall and supporting tissues.

The retina can tear or detach when the gel that fills the eye (vitreous humor) pulls away from the retina (posterior vitreous detachment). Separation of the gel from the retina is a normal change that occurs with aging. But when parts of the gel are stuck to the retina (adhesions), the pulling away can lead to tearing of the retina. The person may see flashes or sparkling lights. When fluid from the eye gel leaks through the tear, the retina itself can lift off the eye wall or become detached, causing partial or complete loss of vision.

An eye doctor diagnoses retinal tears and detachment by examining the eye through a dilated pupil or by using ultrasound.

It is essential to get treatment for a retinal tear or detachment as quickly as possible to decrease the likelihood of permanent damage. Treatment usually involves using surgery or laser therapy to repair the tear and seal the retina to the back of the eye. Surgery may involve injecting gas into the eye to flatten the retina, applying gentle pressure to the side of the eye (buckling) to repair the detachment, or removing all of the gel that fills the eye (vitrectomy).