Symptoms of retinal detachment – see an ophthalmologist!

Every year, around 30,000 people in Germany have to go to the hospital to have a retinal detachment treated there. Most patients are older than 50 years.

If you experience these acute symptoms, you should be urgently tested for retinal detachment:

• Flashes
• Sooty rain
• black spots
• see dark curtain
• acute visual impairment
• Blow to the eye

If retinal detachment is detected, laser therapy of the retina or retinal surgery is necessary depending on the severity of the defect. Rapid treatment plays an important role in the prognosis of retinal detachment.

Such symptoms are always emergencies that must be identified and treated as quickly as possible in order to avoid long-term consequences. In the following article, you will learn when there is a risk of retinal detachment, how it is caused and what treatment options are available.

Symptoms of retinal detachment – these are the first signs

When retinal detachment begins, patients often see everything distorted. In addition, flashes, shadows or even buzzing spots can occur in front of the eyes, which can be reminiscent of a swarm of mosquitoes or ashes.

If the retina is already detached at the point of sharpest vision, humans can only distinguish between bright and dark images. As a rule, patients already complain of failures in the visual field. Vision is completely lost in certain regions.

Affected patients usually report that a black shadow slowly spreads in the field of vision. If such a visual field loss occurs, this is a clear sign of acute retinal detachment and there is an urgent need for action.

Depending on what is causing the retinal detachment, these symptoms may all occur together or individually. Since different areas of the retina may be affected, the severity of symptoms may also vary.

What do I do if these symptoms apply to me?

If the first symptoms of retinal detachment occur, this is an ophthalmological emergency that must be taken very seriously. If the diagnosis is not made in time and the retinal detachment is not treated by surgery, the affected eye may become blind.

So what can I do in case of retinal detachment? Therefore, if appropriate symptoms occur, inform an ophthalmologist immediately and have them tested for retinal detachment.

What can be the causes of retinal detachment?

There are different types of retinal detachment, which differ mainly in their cause.

Crack-related (rhegmatogenic) retinal detachment

The most common cause of retinal detachment is a retinal hole or tear in the retina, which usually happens when the vitreous shrinks over the course of a person’s life.

Holes form in the retina through which fluid runs from the vitreous between the retina and the underlying layer. This is how it becomes detached over time. This form is called rhegmatogenic, i.e. tear-induced retinal detachment.

Exudative retinal detachment

Another form is so-called exudative retinal detachment. In this case, the retina becomes detached because fluid does not escape from the vitreous body, but from vessels of the choroid. This can be caused by inflammation in the eye or, in rare cases, a tumor. However, this form of retinal detachment is very rare.

Tractive retinal detachment

The third form is called tractive retinal detachment. It  occurs when vitreous tissue or retinal layers scar. This type is often triggered by diabetes or as a result of premature birth.

Stress as a cause of retinal detachment

Stress can have various effects on the human body and thus also affect the eye. In the case of a disease of the retina, increased stress levels, among other things, lead to eye problems.

With severe stress, hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, but also blood pressure usually increase. This can cause cracks and small holes in the choroid. This allows fluid to flow under the retina and lift it off or even detach it completely.

What does the examination at the ophthalmologist look like?

The diagnosis is usually made by an ophthalmologist by examining the back of the eye.

He looks at the retina through an eye mirror. To do this, the doctor administers eye drops with an agent that dilates the pupil before controlling the eye through a magnifying glass. With the help of light, he can illuminate the back area and detect changes on the retina.

If this has dissolved, for example, gray wrinkles are usually visible. Cracks and holes are also clearly visible. The ophthalmologist usually checks both eyes, even if the patient only perceives the symptoms in one eye. Often there are also changes to the retina of the apparently healthy eye, which are often a precursor to retinal detachment.

Diagnosis of retinal detachment – What treatment options are available?

If the ophthalmologist discovers holes or cracks in the retina during the diagnosis, these can be treated with eye lasers. In doing so, leaks are closed by means of “welding”. However, this only works if the retina has not yet detached.

If the retina has already detached, surgery is necessary. As a rule, a seal is used or, if there are several holes, a band is placed around the eyeball. The fluid that is under the retina is removed by puncture. In rare cases, it may also be necessary to remove the vitreous body.

If the detachment is the result of an underlying disease, such as a possible tumor or inflammation, it will be treated separately. Retinal detachment can therefore not be treated with medication, but requires surgery. Only then is there a 95% chance of recovery.

In order to avoid late effects and to improve the healing process after an attachment of the retina, the operation should be carried out as soon as possible with an experienced specialist in the case of retinal detachment. The more advanced the disease, the more difficult the treatment.

The ophthalmologist will inform you about the treatment options, benefits and risks of the individual methods. At the latest from the age of 40, you should arrange a check-up at least once a year to prevent retinal detachment, even without symptoms.