Warning signs of “retinal tear-detachment”, a risk that can occur at any age

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If you find abnormal blood vessels in your eyes, your vision is getting worse, or you see something like lightning, see a doctor immediately because you may be at risk of retinal tearing and detachment.

Warning signs of “retinal tear-detachment”, a risk that can occur at any age

Retinal detachment and tear: a danger that can occur at any age

Eye Center, 2nd floor, Building A, Phyathai 2 Hospital states that “Retinal detachment is a condition in which the retina separates or peels away from its original position, causing patients to see flashes of light similar to lightning or a photographic flash, and to see black dots or black lines that look like spider webs floating around, along with blurred vision.”

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand states that “Retinal detachment is a disease that can cause permanent vision loss. Recognizing symptoms and treating them in the early stages will help reduce the chance of loss. When there is retinal detachment, the detached part cannot receive images, causing a dark area like a curtain blocking the vision. Some people see distorted, blurry, wavy images like looking underwater. If you have these symptoms, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately for examination and treatment.”

Types of retinal tears and detachments

Retinal detachment is divided into three types based on its pathological nature.

  1. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is the most common type. It occurs in people with vitreous degeneration and has primary symptoms of floaters and flashes of light. The risk is higher in people who are very nearsighted, have had a previous trauma or surgery inside the eye.
  2. Tractive retinal detachment. This type of detachment mostly occurs in patients with diabetic retinopathy in the late stages or can occur in vitreous detachment, premature babies with tractional detachment in the eye. Therefore, people at risk, such as people with diabetes, must have regular eye examinations throughout their lives. Even if vision is good, there may be hidden diabetic retinopathy, which can cause sudden and permanent vision loss. 
  3. Exudative retinal detachment: This ทางเข้า ufabet type of retinal detachment does not have a tear or traction on the retina. Patients may have blurred vision that is like a curtain covering from top to bottom. When lying on their back, the blurriness may be worse, which is caused by fluid erosion under the retina and rolling back and forth with head movement. This disease can be caused by many diseases, such as inflammation of the retina and the subretinal colloid layer, inflammation of the white of the eye, abnormal blood vessels in the retina, or tumors, eye cancer, or late-stage cancer that has spread into the eye, etc.

Risk group for retinal tear and detachment

Retinal tears and detachments can occur at any age, but because the cause of the disease is often age-related degeneration, it is more common in people over 50 years old.

Risk factors for retinal tear and detachment

  1. Getting older
  2. Very nearsighted
  3. Have a history of retinal detachment in one eye or have a family history of retinal detachment.
  4. There is an infection or inflammation inside the eye.
  5. There is a tumor or cancer that originates within the eye or has spread from another part of the eye.
  6. Diabetic with complications of retinopathy
  7. Have had a serious injury or accident to the eye or have undergone intraocular surgery, such as cataract surgery.

Observable retinal tears and detachments

  • Abnormal vision without pain, redness or watery eyes
  • Seeing flashes of light, such as lightning or a photographic flash, in one or both eyes while in the hand position
  • See black dots or black lines that look like spider webs floating around in your eyes.
  • Blurred vision, like fog or seeing the shadow of a curtain or seeing wavy, twisted images
  • If left untreated, it will begin to increasingly interfere with vision within a few days.

Treatment of retinal tears and detachments that are noticeable

  1. Laser or cryotherapy creates a scar to strengthen the retina and prevent detachment for patients with a retinal tear that has not yet detached.
  2. Surgery for those with retinal tears and detachments, which involves various surgical techniques depending on the nature of the detachment.
  3. Treat according to symptoms, such as if there is cancer, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is required.