Question 1

even though some small retinal tears don't cause detachment, if a small tear was to cause one, how long would it take, what's the average time?

Accepted Answer

Retinal tears: Time till detachment depends on many factors such as location, cause of tear, your age: can take minutes to never. Average depends on above but recommend treatment asap.

Question 2

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 3

how serious are retinal detachments?

Accepted Answer

Very serious: You can permanently lose vision because of a retinal detachment. A vitreoretinal surgeon is required to treat this.

Question 4

what are common signs and causes of retinal detachments?

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 5

i'm wondering are hyperopes at risk for retinal detachments, pvds, etc?

Accepted Answer

Less common: No one is immune from retinal detachment but spontaneous detachment is more common in myopes.  The incidence after trauma or eye surgery is the same in all refractive groups.

Question 6

what is retinal detachment?

Accepted Answer

Elevated retina: A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from the eye wall. It can be caused by a tear or hole that allows fluid from the middle of the eye to get under the retina and elevate it, by an inflammatory process that allows fluid to collect under the retina, or by scarring inside the eye that pulls the retina away from the eye wall. Retinal detachment often requires surgical intervention.

Question 7

how is retinal detachment treated?

Accepted Answer

Variety of ways: Depending upon the location and extent of the break the following techniques may be employed: laser, gas injection, encircling retinal buckle, vitrectomy, cryo freezing of the tear.  Your retinal surgeon will determine the best method.

Question 8

what happens if retinal detachment?

Accepted Answer

Black curtain.: If the retina detaches from the back of the eye, you will see a black curtain or veil in the area that the retina is detached.  If left untreated the curtain will not go away and could progress ultimately leading to complete blindness of the eye.

Question 9

what causes retinal detachment to occur?

Accepted Answer

Cause of Retinal D.: Most common cause is a hole or tear in the peripheral retina, cuased by the vitreous (jelly inside the eye) shifting and pulling on the retina.  The jelly changes from thick jelly to more watery with age and thus shift in the eye cuasing traction and the tear in the eye.  These changes are normal in the aging eye, but typically do not tear the retina, leading to a retinal detachement.

Question 10

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.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Social detachment

A member asked:

Even though some small retinal tears don't cause detachment, if a small tear was to cause one, how long would it take, what's the average time?

A member asked:

What causes retina detachment?

A member asked:

How serious are retinal detachments?

A member asked:

What are common signs and causes of retinal detachments?

A member asked:

I'm wondering are hyperopes at risk for retinal detachments, pvds, etc?

A member asked:

What is retinal detachment?

A member asked:

How is retinal detachment treated?

A member asked:

What happens if retinal detachment?

A member asked:

What causes retinal detachment to occur?

A member asked:

What causes retinal tears and detachments?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?