Retinal Detachment
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Retinal Detachment: Background: Treatment: Usually, the vitreous moves away from the The retina is the layer of tis- • Floaters due to posterior vitreous de- retina without causing problems. However, sue in the back of the eye tachment are harmless, and usually sometimes it pulls hard enough to tear the that receives light and fade over time. retina in one or more places. communicates directly with • These do not require treatment and Fluid can pass through the the brain to form images. A surgery is rarely indicated. retinal tear, lifting the reti- healthy, intact retina gives • Vitamin therapy will not cure float- na off the back of the eye, you clear vision. ers. in what is referred to as ret- • If they annoy you, try to get them inal detachment. out of your field of vision by looking Vitreous is a clear gel up and down. Retinal Detachment poses a very serious that fills the middle of the threat to vision. In the rare case where surgery is neces- eye. Sometimes, tiny sary, a vitrectomy will be performed, Risks: clumps of gel cast shad- where the vitreous fluid will be re- ows on the retina, caus- placed with a salt solution. There is a • Nearsightedness; ing floaters, which you low risk of complications, such as: • Previous cataract, glaucoma or other may see as small dots, specks or clouds • Detached retina eye surgery; moving in your field of vision. These floaters • Cataracts may be annoying, but they should not inter- • Glaucoma medications that make the • Torn retina fere with your sight. pupil small (like pilocarpine) • Severe eye injury; Floaters can also be a sign of retinal A large floater, in certain types of light, can tear, which, if left untreated, can lead • Previous retinal detachment in the oth- cast a slight shadow over your vision. You to retinal detachment from the back of er eye; the eye. In this case, surgery will be may notice floaters less as you learn to live • Family history of retinal detachment. needed. with them. Very rarely do floaters become bad enough to require treatment. Mid - Atlantic Cornea Treatment: Consultants See your doctor right away if you experi- ence any of the following symptoms: • A sudden increase in size and number of floaters. • A sudden appearance of flashes. • Having a shadow appear in the periph- ery of your field of vision; Mid - Atlantic Cornea • Sudden decrease in vision. Consultants Retinal detachment can be treated in your ophthalmologist’s office, and are painless. They create a scar to prevent fluid from slipping behind the retina. Floaters and Retinal 1. Laser surgery (photocoagulation) Detachment With laser surgery, your ophthalmologist uses a Sudeep Pramanik, MD, MBA, FACS laser to make small burns around the retinal Angelique Pillar, MD tear. The scarring that results seals the retina to Sarah Bell, OD the underlying tissue, helping to prevent a reti- Deena Ghazzi, OD nal detachment. 2. Freezing treatment (cryopexy) www.midatlanticcornea.com Your eye surgeon uses a special freezing probe to apply intense cold and freeze the retina around the retinal tear. The result is a scar that Locations: helps secure the retina to the eye wall. York, PA Towson, MD Columbia, MD Frederick, MD www.midatlanticcornea.com .