Question 1

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 2

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 3

what is the retina?

Accepted Answer

Sensorineural tissue: The retina lines the inside of the back wall of the eye and is responsible for capturing light, just like film in a camera. The retina converts this light information into electrical signals that get transmitted along the optic nerve to the brain for interpretation as vision. Similar to brain and spinal chord tissue, the retina is not able to regenerate itself after damage or injury.

Question 4

what is torn retina?

Accepted Answer

Flap in back of eye: The retina is the layer of cells that coat the back of your eye and collect light to allow you to see. When the retina becomes torn the layer is elevated off of its attachments to the eye. Please see your doctor to see if you can have this surgically corrected.

Question 5

symptoms of torn retina?

Accepted Answer

Flashes and floaters: Typically patients will note flashing lights particularly at night.  They may also note floating 'specks' in their vision caused by loose bits of the vitreous gel at the back of the eye.  Some may note a curtain over a peripheral part of the vision.  All these call for an immediate dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist.

Question 6

what is a retinal disorder?

Accepted Answer

Back of the eye...: A retinal disorder is a disease which reduces vision in the light sensitive layer on the back of the eye.  This is analogous to the film in a camera.

Question 7

what causes retina detachment?

Accepted Answer

Flashes floater veil: Vitreous separation ; traction on the retina causes retinal tears-causing vitreous floaters ; hazy vision.  Laser helps to prevent the tear from progressing to a retinal detachment as fluid flows though untreated tears and the retina falls off the back of your eye-like wallpaper coming off a wall.  This causes a veil in your side vision then central vision loss.  It is painless.

Question 8

what causes retinal inflamation?

Accepted Answer

Long list: The differential diagnosis of this is quite long so there is no single or short answer. Sorry

Question 9

how common is retina detachment?

Accepted Answer

NOT common: But...... It varies depending on how near-sighted you are.  Highly near-sighted people have increased risk of rd.  I do not have solid numbers.  I see about one/month in my practice.

Question 10

retinal tear laser complications?

Accepted Answer

Low risk procedure: A retinal tear can be surrounded by laser, which helps to prevent retinal detachment. One complication is that the treatment is not adequate, and a detachment happens anyway. There can be some discomfort during the laser procedure, but there is virtually no risk of inflammation, and no risk of infection.  It is remotely possible that the laser could be applied to an unintended part of the retina.

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