Detachment of the retina

[Tina]

Detachment of the retina is separation of the retina (the transparent, light-sensitive structure at the back of the eye) from the underlying layer to which it is attached.

People notice a sudden increase in floaters, a sudden onset of flashing lights, a curtain or veil across vision, or sudden loss of vision.
Doctors make the diagnosis by looking in the eye with an ophthalmoscope.
Most retinal detachments can be repaired, resulting in improved vision if done soon after the detachment occurs.

A retinal detachment may begin in a small area, usually as the result of a retinal break (tear or, less commonly, a hole). If the small area is not soon reattached, the entire retina can detach. Retinal breaks that can lead to retinal detachment are more likely to occur in people who have or have had the following:

Severe nearsightedness (myopia)
Cataract surgery
An eye injury
Lattice retinal degeneration (a common disorder characterized by thinning and scar formation usually along the edge, or periphery, of the retina)
A family history of retinal detachment

When the retina detaches, it separates from part of its blood supply. Unless the retina is reattached, it may be permanently damaged by lack of blood.
Sometimes a retinal detachment is not caused by a break. Some detachments are caused by complications of diseases that damage the retina (such as diabetes, which can cause diabetic retinopathy). Fluid or blood from a damaged blood vessel may also collect between the retina and the underlying tissue, causing a detachment.