What is a retinal detachment?
Retinal detachment is an ophthalmologic emergency, which in most cases is accompanied by an acute loss of vision. During this process, the retinal cell layer separates from the layer of vessels that supply blood to the retina. The longer one waits with the treatment, the more the risk of permanent vision loss increases. Therefore, it is very important to contact an ophthalmologist in time to maintain visual acuity. The therapeutic treatment of a diagnosed retinal detachment is usually carried out in specialised surgical eye centres.
Which symptoms indicate a retinal detachment?
The symptoms that indicate a retinal detachment Sudden flashes (photopsies) in one or both eyes, sudden appearance of spots in the visual field (often perceived as "mosquitoes" or "cobwebs"), "sooty rain" in the visual field, blurred vision, the feeling or perception of a shadow in the visual field. In the case of such symptoms, an immediate presentation to the ophthalmologist must be made.
What are the causes of retinal detachment?
There are three types of retinal detachment: retinal detachment due to tearing (rhegmatogenic), traction (tractive) and exudation (serous). The most common form is rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, which is caused by holes or tears in the retina. Through the retinal holes (or retinal tears), fluid penetrates under the retinal layers and separates them from their blood supply, resulting in loss of vision. The tractive form is caused by retinal membranes that create tensile forces, causing the retinal layer to detach (e.g. in advanced diabetic retinal damage). In the serous form, fluid accumulates under the retina, e.g. in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal tumours, after blunt injuries (contusions) of the eyeball or in inflammatory diseases of the rheumatic form.
Retinal detachment is associated with the following risk factors: Aging process (it occurs more often after the age of 50), occurred retinal detachment in the partner eye, retinal detachment in the family history, high myopia, eye operations (e.g. after cataract operation), eye injuries, inflammation of the iris (uveitis) or peripheral retinal degeneration. Peripheral retinal degenerations are thin spots in the outer retinal circumference that can tear and thus lead to retinal detachment. They can also exist without symptoms. As part of a retinal prevention with pupil dilation, such spots are recognized by the ophthalmologist and, if necessary, prophylactically repositioned with laser foci.
