Rhegmatogenic retinal detachment occurs when the retina detaches from the eye due to a tear or break, causing vision loss. It is most common in adults between 40 and 70, and can be treated with surgery such as a scleral buckle or vitrectomy. Patients may experience bright sparkles, peripheral vision loss, and even total blindness if left untreated.
Rhegmatogenic retinal detachment occurs when the retina, which is a thin layer of nerve tissue at the back of the eye, detaches from the rest of the eye. This condition could cause blindness if left untreated. Doctors can use various techniques to surgically reattach the retina.
This disorder occurs when the retina experiences a tear or break. Vitreous fluid, which is the liquid inside the center of the eye, enters the break. Pushes the retina from behind and lifts it out of position. Nerve tissue cells die when they are cut off from their nutrient source, resulting in vision loss.
Rhegmatogenic retinal detachment is most common in adults between the ages of 40 and 70. Men, myopic individuals, and people who have a family history of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment are at higher risk than the general population. People who have already experienced this condition in the other eye are also at risk.
Patients whose retinas have detached might see bright sparkles or they might see dark lines or scribbles called “floats.” These individuals may also experience peripheral vision loss, which appears as a dark, moon-shaped area in the corner of the eye. As the condition progresses, the loss of peripheral vision gradually expands to include central vision. Rhegmatogenic retinal detachment can eventually cause total blindness in the affected eye.
The location of the macula, a point in the center of the retina, determines the severity of the condition. Patients whose macula are still attached have a better chance of regaining normal vision. A patient whose macula has detached could experience permanent vision loss.
An ophthalmologist can diagnose rhegmatogenous retinal detachment by dilating the eye and performing a physical exam. He or she treats the detached retina by doing a procedure called a scleral buckle. The doctor sews a piece of plastic or silicone onto the white outer part of the eye to push the retina back into place.
Your doctor might also inject a gas bubble into your eye to push the retina back into place. This procedure, called pneumatic retinopexy, resolves simple cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The condition usually improves in a day or two, but the patient should be careful about moving their head for about 14 to 14 weeks after surgery.
A vitrectomy involves using surgical tools to reattach the retina. The doctor removes the vitreous fluid and repairs the eye while the patient is under general anesthesia. Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor might also apply a scleral buckle to keep the retina in place.
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