Retinal detachment | Cause & Help: Dr. med. Bánjai clarifies

Retinal detachment (amotio retina) is a rather rare disease of the eye on the retina. Retinal detachment is characterized by the fact that the inner layers of the retina of the eye detach from the supply layer (the retinal pigment epithelium). The detachment of the layer is usually caused by the natural ageing process of the retina in the eye.

With early surgery of the affected layer of the retina or retina in the vitreous body of the eye, the chances of recovery from retinal detachment are very good. However, if a retinal detachment is intervened too late or not at all, the detachment of the retina of the eye can also lead to complete blindness of the eyes.

Retinal detachment can be treated by laser eye surgery or retinal surgery. The operation of the retina depends on the stage of retinal detachment in the eye. Book an appointment with the ophthalmologist for this.

How is the retina structured?

The retina of the eye consists of several parts and lies on the inner wall of the eye. The largest part is the so-called pars optica. This is where the so-called photoreceptors are located. These photoreceptors are known as rods and cones. The point at which the retina merges into the optic nerve is called the blind spot.

The sticks in the eye are primarily responsible for perceiving black and white. The cones, on the other hand, function for perceiving colors. In addition, the cones are less sensitive to light and the reason why a person often sees more blurred at night.

The nerve cells process the impulses they receive from rods and cones. This information, which has been passed on to the nerve cells through rods and cones, is passed on to the brain via the optic nerve. There, the whole picture is put together.

What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?

Symptoms of retinal detachment – Retinal detachment is usually manifested by various visual disturbances of the eye: patients see flashes of light, black dots and flakes that move during retinal detachment. Shadows that spread can also occur.

If you notice any signs of retinal detachment in your eye, it is advisable to have your eyes, retina and vitreous examined by an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

The sooner the retinal detachment can be detected and treated by an ophthalmologist, the greater the chances of a full recovery. On the other hand, a detachment of the retina that has not been treated or has been treated too late can lead to blindness of the eye.

What does the examination and diagnosis of retinal detachment look like?

If your eyes show symptoms of retinal detachment, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately. This will perform an eye examination of the vitreous body of the patient. This makes it possible to examine the inner surface of the vitreous body in the eye, which is normally not visible from the outside.

The good thing about an eye examination of the vitreous body is that it is painless and low-risk. In addition, the patient’s retina can be checked very well. It is examined for possible detachments as well as cracks or holes in the retina by the doctor illuminating the background of the eye or vitreous body in order to be able to detect a change on the retina in the eye.

Should a retinal detachment occur, this detaches from the choroid in the vitreous body. If the choroid detaches from the retina, fluids such as blood and water can form in the patient’s eye. Damage to the choroid and the formation of fluid should be avoided. If a clear diagnosis of the vitreous body is not possible, an ultrasound examination is a common alternative to determine retinal detachment in the eye.

Retinal detachment: What are the risk factors & causes?

Retinal detachment is a relatively rare disease. The detachment of the retina only statistically affects one in 10,000 people. This corresponds to 0.01 percent. Nevertheless, holes can also occur. Retinal detachment of the eyes usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 65.

Eyes of people with severe nearsightedness and diabetes are particularly at risk. Therefore, you should always be examined by an ophthalmologist. In addition, retinal detachment of the eyes is also hereditary. Most often, retinal detachment is triggered by the normal ageing process of the eye:

The vitreous body of the eye, consisting of a gelatinous mass, shrinks over the years. This creates holes and liquid leaks out. The rhegmatogenic retinal detachment of the eye is the result. As a precaution, an ophthalmologist should always be consulted for symptoms.

What are the treatment options for retinal detachment?

To date, there is no drug treatment for retinal detachment. Depending on the stage and the individual course of the retinal detachment, however, the following options for treating the eyes are possible:

The laser surgery of the eyes

The sooner the detachment of the retina is detected, the more uncomplicated and low-risk the treatment of the retina of the eye is. If the detachment of the retina is still in a very early stage, or if there is only a tear in the retina, laser eye surgery is usually possible as a treatment for the affected eye.

The laser beam causes inflammation at the injured site of the eye, which causes scarring in the tissue of the retina and thus treats and closes the tear in the retina of the affected eye. In most cases, surgical treatment of the tear in the retina of the eye by laser is possible on an outpatient basis.

The operation of the eyes

Often, however, the detachment and formation of the holes in the retina is only discovered at a stage when laser treatment of the retina is already ineffective. In this case, the eye must be subjected to surgical treatment. The method for this strongly depends on the type of retinal detachment and the stage of the retinal disease.

However, the aim of the operation on the retina is in any case to fix the retina of the eyes and to eliminate the actual trigger of retinal detachment. In most cases, surgery of the eyes or retina requires an inpatient stay of several days.

If you have noticed any signs of retinal detachment or the formation of holes (retinal hole) – or have already been diagnosed with a detachment of the retina – please do not hesitate to contact us.

In our laser eye center in Karlsruhe and laser eye center in Stuttgart, we are at your side with many years of experience and modern diagnostics. We will advise you individually on suitable treatment options and provide you with comprehensive information on the topic of retina, retinal detachment and possible therapies.