What is a RETINAL TEAR?

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A retinal tear is formed in the retina which is the inner lining of the eye. The retina is a thin, light-sensitive tissue that generates our vision like film in a camera.  If you develop a retinal tear it puts you at risk of developing a retinal detachment. A retinal detachment can lead to severe, permanent loss of vision.

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Symptoms of a retinal tear include sudden onset of black spots (floaters) and flashes of light.  On occasion, a patient can develop a vitreous hemorrhage (bleed in the retina) and this can cause blurred vision or a shadow closing in over the vision.  Retinal tears can happen to anyone but some underlying risk factors are age, nearsightedness, lattice degeneration (thin patches in the retina), trauma, family history of retinal tears or detachments, and prior eye surgery.

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Treatment for a retinal tear can be done in the office using an argon laser.  The treatment creates spot-welding around the edges of the tear reducing the risk of developing a retinal detachment.  Prior to the laser, numbing drops are applied to the surface of the eye.  A large contact lens is then placed directly on the eye to obtain a clear view into your eye and direct the laser to the area of the tear.  After the laser, you may have a headache feeling and your vision will appear purple or pink.  This usually subsides in minutes to an hour.  Although not painful depending on the location of the tear and the amount of laser required to surround it some patients will experience discomfort.  Not all tears require treatment.  Some tears are located in areas that are considered low risk and if the patient is asymptomatic the risks (which are low) outweigh the benefits.  Some tears will even self heal, your body will create a scar around them itself.

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What is a retinal detachment?

A detached retina is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye.  The retina does not work when it is detached, making vision blurry.  A detached retina is a serious problem an it may need to be treated right away to prevent vision loss.  As we get older the vitreous gel in our eyes becomes more liquid.  As the eye moves, the vitreous gel moves and cause traction on the retina.  Sometimes the vitreous may stick to the retina and pull hard enough to tear it.  When that happens, fluid can pass through the tear and lift (detach) the retina.

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Retinal detachment can happen to anyone however some risk factors that can increase your chance of developing a detachment are: nearsightedness, serious eye injury, history of retinal tear or detachment in either eye, family history of retinal detachment, weak areas in your retina (lattice degeneration), previous eye surgery, underlying eye disease (diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma).

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A detached retina usually has to be treated fairly quickly (within 24 hours to a week).  Symptoms of a retinal detachment can include: sudden onset of flashing lights, new floaters, looking like cobwebs in your vision, a shadow appearing in your peripheral vision, a gray curtain covering part of your field of vision.

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A retinal detachment may be treated by minor procedure called a pneumatic retinopexy which is performed in the clinic or it may required a surgery which is performed in a hospital operating room.