Retina Tear and Retinal Detachment

Retinal tear and retinal detachment are serious injuries that can affect your vision. Thankfully, they are treatable to preserve your eyesight. At Prestige Retina in Allen, Texas, medical and surgical retina specialist Jason Chien, MD, treats retinal tears and detachments in people of all ages. If you have blurred vision or flashes and floaters, you will find out the cause during your visit and get personalized treatment recommendations. Call Prestige Retina to schedule a retina tear or retinal detachment consultation, or book your appointment online today. 

Are a retina tear and retinal detachment the same thing?

Retina tears and detachments are often mentioned together, but they aren’t the same.

Retina tear

Retinal tears occur when the vitreous –– the clear, gel-like substance that makes up most of your eyeball –– pulls on the retina and damages it. The retina is a layer of light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye.

Retina detachment

Retinal detachment occurs when a retinal tear goes untreated. Over time, this causes the retina to pull away from the supporting tissues, causing sudden vision loss or an explosion of floaters and flashers.

What are the symptoms of a retinal tear or retinal detachment?

Retinal tears and detachments present similar symptoms, including:

• Blurred vision
• Darkening vision
• Flashes of light
• An increase in floaters and black spots
• Reduced peripheral (side) vision
• The sudden appearance of many floaters

If you have a retinal detachment, you might see a curtain-like shadow in your field of vision.

How is a retinal tear and retinal detachment diagnosed?

Your Prestige Retina provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, they complete several tests, including:

Retinal examination

Your provider dilates (or widens) your pupils with special eye drops and uses an instrument with bright light and enhanced lenses to examine your retina and the other tissues at the back of your eye. The magnification lets your provider see retinal holes, tears, and detachments.

Ultrasound imaging

If there’s bleeding at the back of your eye that interferes with your provider’s ability to see your retina, they complete an eye ultrasound. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to take photos of your retina and the surrounding issues.

How are retinal tears and retinal detachments treated?

Treatment for retinal tears and retinal detachments varies. 

If you have a retinal tear, your provider might suggest:

Laser surgery

Laser surgery uses targeted light energy to close a retinal tear and prevent it from growing. It also prevents fluid from getting behind the tear, reducing the risk of future complications.

Cryopexy

Cryopexy is similar to laser surgery. The difference is that it uses freezing temperatures to close the retinal tear and keep it from growing.

If you have a retinal detachment, your provider might suggest:

Injecting air or gas into your eye

This procedure, called pneumatic retinopexy, uses a bubble of air or gas to push the area of your retina with the hole against the wall of your eye. Afterward, your provider uses cryopexy to repair the retinal damage.

Indenting the surface of your eye

During this procedure, your provider sews a piece of silicone to the white of your eye over the hole in your retina. This indents the wall of your eye and prevents the vitreous from tugging on your retina.

If you have a severe retinal detachment, your provider creates a scleral buckle that wraps around your eye like a belt. The belt doesn’t block your vision, but it prevents further damage from occurring.

Draining and replacing the fluid in your eye

This procedure, called a vitrectomy, removes the vitreous pulling on your retina. Afterward, your provider injects air, gas, or oil into the space, flattening your retina and preventing further damage.

Call Prestige Retina to explore the treatments for a retina tear and retina detachment, or book your appointment online today.