Last week I experienced a sudden loss of sight in part of one visual field when I hit my face off the corner of a table. In the A&E department I was told my retina had detached.
The retina is the tissue in the back of the eye that helps us see images focused on it by the cornea and the lens. Retinal detachment occurs when the light-sensitive retina in the eye separates from its supporting layers.
Detachments are often associated with a hole or tear in the retina through which eye fluids leak, causing the retina to separate from its underlying tissues. Retinal detachment may occur on its own or may by caused by trauma, diabetes or as a result of an inflammatory disorder.
It is most often caused by a related condition called posterior vitreous detachment. When the retina detaches, bleeding from small retinal blood vessels may cloud the interior of the eye. Central vision can become affected if the part of the retina responsible for fine vision, the macula, becomes detached.
Risk factors for the condition include eye surgery, uncontrolled diabetes, trauma, nearsightedness and a family history of retinal detachment. Symptoms can include bright flashes of light, particularly affecting peripheral vision, blurred vision, shadows or blind spots in a section of the visual field in one eye, and floaters.
I had the retina repaired and my sight is almost back to normal. How important is early diagnosis?
Retinal detachment is an urgent medical problem that requires prompt medical attention. Examination of the eye is usually carried out to check the retina, pupil and other parts of the eye, as well as an assessment of vision, colour perception and pressure in the eye. Treatment of a retinal detachment usually involves surgery either at the time of the diagnosis or shortly after it. However, it may not be required if you are not experiencing symptoms or if the problem is found to be longstanding.
Surgical treatment of retinal detachment may include the use of a laser to seal the tear in the retina or the placing of a gas bubble in the eye to help the retina back into place.
Alternatively, a procedure where intense cold is applied to the affected area can help a scar to form, which holds the retina against the underlying tissues. Recovery will depend on the location and severity of the detachment.
Early treatment is essential and if the macula has not been affected recovery is usually excellent.
