Question 1

what are symptoms of retinal tearing?

Accepted Answer

See below: New/worse eye floaters, flashing lights, and/or loss of peripheral vision (like a curtain or veil in one's vision) are symptoms. Rarely it can occur without any symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, see and eye doctor right away.

Question 2

how are retinal holes usually treated?

Accepted Answer

Retinal holes: Retinal holes can either be observed or lasered.  If the retinal hole is low risk, they are observed.  If high risk (symptomatic, high near-sightedness, history of prior retinal detachment, etc), then laser should be performed.

Question 3

could my retinal detatchment be treated?

Accepted Answer

Surgery now!: If your retina is detached, time is vision!  The sooner your retina is repaired the more likely you are to regain vision lost, or prevent permanent vision loss.  Not every detachment is the same.  Some retinal detachments can be fixed with an in-office procedure.  Don't delay!

Question 4

what are the symptoms of a retinal tear?

Accepted Answer

Visual changes: When the retina tears (usually leading to retinal detachment) you will experience light flashes and streaks even with the eyes shut, large quantities of floaters, a pattern of veins like the veins on a leaf in your view and a greying out of the vision. As it advances the vision drop it is not painful so that is not a clue.  If you have any or all of these, you need to see an ophthalmologist pronto.

Question 5

what causes retinal tears and detachments?

Accepted Answer

Age: The vitreous jelly changes as we age and it pulls away from the back of the eye (retina) - a posterior vitreous detachment. During this process, if the jelly pulls hard enough on the retina (especially in a thin or weak area) it can tear the retina which can subsequently detach. Other risk factors include myopia, cataract surgery, head/eye trauma, family history, lattice degeneration, etc.

Question 6

why can't i lift if history of retinal tear?

Accepted Answer

Retinal tear: If the retinal tear is recent, you should take it easy until your eye doctor confirms that the laser treatment was adequate.  After that, there is no reason you should have to limit your activities (ie lifting).

Question 7

what are the possible causes of retinal tears?

Accepted Answer

Retinal traction: Most retinal rears are caused by traction on the retina by the vitreous gel, sometimes in association with weaknesses in the retina related to high eye nearsightedness, retinal injuries, old retinal scarring, etc.  As the eye ages, the vitreous gel naturally liquifies and detatches from the retina,  a posterior retinal detachment.  Residual areas of traction can cause retinal tears/detachment.

Question 8

can you exercise when you have a retinal hole?

Accepted Answer

Depends: If you have a retinal hole, there is a risk that a detachment of the retina might start at that point.  If you know about such a hole, someone must have evaluated you and hopefully advised you of the risks.  These are sometimes surrounded with laser hits to attach the retinal well.  Some holes are incomplete (requires skilled scleral depression) and may not need treatment.

Question 9

what is a likely sign that i have a retinal tear?

Accepted Answer

Flashes and floaters: The warning signs for a retinal tear are flashes of light (like a streak of lightening) and a sudden increase in floaters.  This needs to be checked as tears are, relatively, easily treated, retinal detachments are much more involved.  Untreated tears can become detachments.

Question 10

i have a disconnected retinal nerve can it be fixed?

Accepted Answer

Probably: I am guessing that you have a retinal detachment to some degree.  Retinal nerves cannot be disconnected unless there is severe injury which would disrupt multiple nerves.  Detachment can be fixed in a variety of ways provided you seek help within several days of the onset of symptoms (light flashes, many floaters, lowered vision, greying out of vision).See your ophthalmologist.

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Operculated retinal hole

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What are symptoms of retinal tearing?

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How are retinal holes usually treated?

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Could my retinal detatchment be treated?

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What are the symptoms of a retinal tear?

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What causes retinal tears and detachments?

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Why can't i lift if history of retinal tear?

A member asked:

What are the possible causes of retinal tears?

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Can you exercise when you have a retinal hole?

A member asked:

What is a likely sign that i have a retinal tear?

A member asked:

I have a disconnected retinal nerve can it be fixed?

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