Detached and Torn Retina Retinal Detachments Occur in 1 Out of 10,000 Americans Each Year
A retinal detachment is not as common as other eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, however… it is just as serious and it is a vision threatening condition which should be treated as an emergency.
Dr. Randy Katz, Florida Eye’s Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachment & Macular Degeneration Specialist says that the sooner a retinal tear or detachment is treated the better the chances of saving the vision in the eye.
What Is a Retinal Detachment?
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain. When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its normal position. When this occurs, if not promptly treated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss. In some cases there may be small areas of the retina that are torn. These areas, called retinal tears or retinal breaks, can lead to a retinal detachment.
Vitreous gel, the clear material that fills the eyeball, is attached to the retina in the back of the eye. As we get older, the vitreous may change shape, pulling away from the retina. If the vitreous pulls a piece of the retina with it, it causes a retinal tear. Once a retinal tear occurs, vitreous fluid may seep through and lift the retina off the back wall of the eye, causing the retina to detach or pull away.
2 Are You At Risk for a Torn or Detached Retina?
A retinal detachment can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over age 40. It affects men more than women and Whites more than African Americans.
However people with the following conditions also have an increased risk for retinal detachment:
. Nearsightedness . Previous cataract surgery . Glaucoma . Severe eye injury . Previous retinal detachment in the other eye . Family history of retinal detachment . Weak retinal areas that can be seen during an eye exam
Symptoms of a Retinal Tear or Detachment…
1. A sudden increase in size and number of floaters indicating a retinal tear may be occurring 2. A sudden appearance of flashes, which could be the first stage of a retinal tear or detachment 3. Having a shadow appear in the periphery (side) of your field of vision 4. Seeing a gray curtain moving across your field of vision 5. A sudden decrease in your vision
How Will Your Condition Be Diagnosed?
Your ophthalmologist can diagnose a retinal tear or retinal detachment during an eye examination after the pupils of your eyes have been dilated. The doctor may also order an ultrasound of the eye to get additional detail of the retina.
Only after careful examination can your doctor tell whether a retinal tear or early retinal detachment is present.
3 How Will Your Condition Be Treated?
A retinal tear or a detached retina is repaired surgically. There are a variety of surgical options available at Florida Eye, Dr. Katz will discuss the type of procedure recommended for your particular situation, as well as outline the various risks and benefits of your treatment options. Most surgical treatments for retinal tears cause little or no discomfort and the procedure would be performed at our surgical facility.
IMPORTANT TIP! A routine eye exam can detect the very beginnings of a retinal tear before damage has occurred. This is why it is so important for everyone to have a yearly exam.
Why Choose Florida Eye for Your Retinal Care?
Dr. Randy Katz enjoys an outstanding reputation as ‘the’ expert in his field, and has been handling the most difficult retinal cases for decades. Whether optometrists find something amiss with a patient’s vision during a routine exam, or they have a patient with a possible retinal emergency, Dr. Katz is the surgeon they call, again and again
4 Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute offers a full range of total eye care, including routine examinations, pediatric eye care, dry eye, advanced corneal, retinal and cataract procedures, laser treatments, glaucoma, diabetic procedures and various other sophisticated treatments. With its own pediatric wing and fully accredited outpatient surgical center in Boynton Beach, the Institute also has offices in Wellington, Boca Raton and Juno Beach.
Florida Eye enjoys a reputation as the premier center for clinical trials of breakthrough therapies nationwide. At any given time we are conducting studies in a variety of conditions such as Wet and Dry AMD and Diabetic Retinopathy. For information on current or future studies contact Margo Dague, our study coordinator, at (561) 736-5055 or via email at [email protected]. You can also visit our site at fleyedocs.com.
DR. FRIEDMAN DR. KATZ DR. SCHECHTER DR. GORSCAK DR. CRISS DR. NEZGODA
Wellington Boca Raton Boynton Beach Juno Beach 2575 State Road 7 9980 Central Park Blvd 1717 Woolbright Road 13901 U.S. Hwy 1 Wellington, FL 33414 Suite 204 Boynton Beach, Suite 7 (561) 792-1205 Boca Raton, FL 33428 FL 33426 Juno Beach, FL 33408 (561) 451-4514 (561) 737-5500 (561) 748-8230 (Pediatrics Only)
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