The retina is a light-sensitive, transparent tissue located on the back wall of the eye. Light is focused on the retina by the cornea and the lens. The retina then converts the image into neural impulses and sends them to the brain via the optic nerve (the nerve connecting the eye to the brain). Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from the tissues underneath it. It is important to distinguish retinal detachment from posterior vitreous detachment (when the jelly in the eye peels away from the retina) or a tear (the vitreous jelly rips the retina during the process of posterior vitreous detachment). Every year, about 1 to 2 people per 10 000 develop retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. The November 25, 2009, issue of JAMA includes an article about eye floaters and flashes and distinguishing symptoms of retinal detachment.
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Extreme nearsightedness is an important risk factor for retinal detachment: 67% of people who develop retinal detachment are nearsighted. Other risk factors include retinal detachment of the other eye, cataract surgery, a family history of retinal detachment, uncontrolled diabetes, and blunt trauma to the eyes.
Symptoms of retinal detachment include sudden onset or increase of floaters, bright flashes of light, blurred vision, or a shadow or blindness in a part of the visual field in one eye. An increasing area of grayness in one eye ("curtain of darkness") can mean that a retinal tear has progressed to a detached retina. If this happens, the patient should immediately consult an ophthalmologist (physician specializing in diseases of the eyes). The goal is to prevent detachment of the macula (central region of the retina) because this is the portion of the retina responsible for fine, detailed central vision.
People with retinal detachment should seek emergency medical attention from an ophthalmologist. Chances of recovering function are greater when the retina is repaired before the macula is detached. Most people with retinal detachment will need surgery to repair it, either immediately or after a short period of time. There are several types of surgery used depending on the severity and type of detachment. Patients with severe cases will need to go to the operating room, although some cases of retinal detachment can be treated with an outpatient procedure. Small holes and tears can be treated with laser surgery or a freeze treatment called cryopexy. Once the retina is reattached, vision improves and stabilizes. A person's ability to read with the affected eye after surgery depends on whether the macula was detached, how long it was detached, the severity of the retinal detachment, and the type of treatment performed.
National Institutes of Healthhttp://www.nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/index.asp
American Academy of Ophthalmologyhttp://one.aao.org
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Sources: National Institutes of Health, American Academy of Ophthalmology
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TOPIC: EYE DISEASES
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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Figure 75-1 Normal Eye Anatomy, PVD, Retinal Tear, and Retinal Detachment. A, Normal eye anatomy....
Figure 75-2 Area of Peripheral Retina With 2 Horseshoe-Shaped Retinal Tears in an Area of...
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