How do you notice an incipient retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment is an urgent ophthalmological emergency! If left untreated, severe late effects can occur up to blindness, which is why surgery is absolutely necessary. The various causes of retinal detachment range from age-related changes to consequences of accidents and tumours.

The eye disease has serious symptoms. These include, for example, flashes of light and black dots that move in front of the eyes. If the retinal detachment is detected early and treated by surgery, there is a good prognosis for those affected to be able to see fully again.

Even if there is no way to prevent the disease, it is worthwhile to trust the positive experience reports of retinal surgeries and to have the symptoms tested and treated as soon as they occur. We explain how you can recognize a retinal detachment and what the causes are.

Typical symptoms of retinal detachment

The symptoms of retinal detachment always depend on which area is affected. As a rule, the field of vision is initially limited when the retina is detached. This is the area that you can see with both eyes without having to move them.

The most common symptom is also a kind of dark wall that rises from below as retinal detachment increases. However, a curtain can also appear from above or from the side.

If the retina detaches at the site of the sharpest vision, the central visual acuity is also significantly impaired and the disease has already progressed strongly.

Regardless of the severity, eye pain is not a symptom of retinal detachment. The symptoms of retinal detachment can occur both alone and in combination. In rare cases, it is also possible for the disease to progress completely symptom-free.

This is the case when parts of the eye are affected where there are no important nerve cells. Without treatment, the condition worsens. If the retina is separated from the choroid, which lies directly below it, it can no longer be perfused with blood.

Depending on how long this lasts, the retina may suffer major damage that cannot be reversed. In the worst case, you may be able to go blind in the affected eye.

What do I see with an incipient retinal detachment?

If you notice any of the following, please consult an ophthalmologist immediately:

• If the retina becomes detached, flashes of light can often occur. The effect is mainly described in the context of darkness.
• Black dots, a shower of soot or a swarm of mosquitoes in front of the eye also usually occur as a precursor to retinal detachment. Bleeding and cracks in the retina are responsible for this.
• When the retina peels from above, a black shadow is perceived that builds up from the bottom to the top. As the shadow increases in size, patients can no longer see clearly. This symptom is also known as visual field loss.

Examination and diagnosis by an ophthalmologist

In the case of retinal detachment, it is important to act very quickly. Wondering what to do in case of retinal detachment? Therefore, if you experience symptoms, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately. Even if the symptoms occur only on one side, he always examines the other eye as well.

Frequently, changes also occur in the retina of the unaffected eye, which can be a precursor to detachment. Before the examination, the pupils must be dilated using eye drops. The dilated pupil allows the posterior area of the eye to be examined and the retina to be assessed.

The ophthalmologist uses a magnifying glass or in some cases a so-called contact glass, i.e. a type of magnifying glass that is placed directly on the eyeball. In this way, he can determine the retinal detachment and also clarify its cause. If the view of the retina is impaired by bleeding, an ultrasound examination may also be necessary.

Causes of retinal hole

In retinal detachment, fluid runs from the inside of the eye between the retina and the outer wall of the eye through a tear in the retina. As a result, the retina lifts off and is no longer supplied. If this condition persists, the upper layer slowly dies off and vision will remain poorer even after the retina has been reattached.

Such cracks can form as the vitreous gradually contracts. This usually occurs with increasing age. In addition, blows to the eye or other external influences can damage the retina.

If uncontrollably growing tissue such as a tumor or inflammation forms in the eye, these tissues can actively excrete fluid under the retina and thus lead to a special form of retinal detachment.

Risk factors for retinal detachment include eye inflammation, injury, or nearsightedness. In rare cases, surgery on the eyes can also be a trigger.

Laser eye treatment for retinal detachment

In the case of retinal detachment, surgery must be performed. It cannot be treated with medication. In the event of a tear in the retina – i.e. before the retinal detachment begins – it is ideally recommended to have the eyes lasered.

The laser beam causes scarring in the injured area. The edge of the retinal hole or retinal tear is welded to the laser.

Due to the resulting scars, the retina regrows firmly with the underlying layer. Thus, the incipient retinal detachment can be successfully treated.

Modern laser technologies and experienced specialists are available in the specialised laser eye centres in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. In general, laser treatments of the retina have a very good prognosis for a crack or hole. Nevertheless, it is crucial to detect the disease as early as possible and have it treated professionally in order to avoid serious long-term consequences.