As the retina detaches it often causes a dark shadow, like a curtain or veil, in the peripheral vision, which usually progresses to complete vision loss.
A detached retina affects your vision and can lead to blindness. Your retina senses light and sends signals to your brain so you can see.
If untreated, retinal detachment causes severe loss of vision. In some cases, it improves though it may take a few months for some degree of vision to return.
Don't do things where you might move your head. This includes moving quickly, lifting anything heavy, or doing activities such as cleaning or gardening.
You do not normally need to stay in hospital overnight. Recovery time after surgery varies. But as a general guide, for 2 to 6 weeks after surgery: your vision may be blurry.
Retinal examination.
The doctor may use an instrument with a bright light and special lenses to examine the back of your eye, including the retina. This type of device provides a highly detailed view of your whole eye, allowing the doctor to see any retinal holes, tears or detachments.
In pneumatic retinopexy, your doctor will inject a small air bubble into your eye. The bubble will push your retina back into place so your doctor can use a laser or freeze treatment to repair any holes or tears. You can usually get this surgery in your doctor's office.
The initial symptoms of a retinal detachment are the same as a retinal tear or a posterior vitreous detachment, i.e. flashes and floaters; however, as the detachment progresses, a dark, opaque moon-shaped shadow or curtain will appear from one side of your vision.
If the central vision is still attached, a retina specialist may proceed with treatment within 24-48 hours to repair the detachment before it progresses through the central vision. If the central vision is detached at the time of diagnosis, the surgeon may schedule treatment within the next 7-10 days.
Many eye doctors agree that retinal detachment can lead to permanent blindness, but the timeline of how quickly it happens is difficult to determine. People can lose their sight within several hours of the detachment or within a few days.
After surgery for retinal detachment
During the post-operative period: Your eye may be uncomfortable for several weeks, particularly if a scleral buckle has been used. Your vision will be blurry – it may take some weeks or even three to six months for your vision to improve.
If you frequently experience stress you might wonder, can stress cause retinal detachment? The simple answer is no, stress cannot cause retinal detachment.
A retinal tear is less severe than a retinal detachment, but you still may need treatment. You probably won't feel pain, but you may have blurry vision and a lot of eye floaters and light flashes.
The Connection Between High Blood Pressure And Retinal Detachment. High blood pressure can cause retinal detachment due to increased pressure on the eye's network of blood vessels. It affects the retinal tissue and can lead to retinal tears and detachment.
Most retinal surgery is performed while you are awake. Retinal surgery is usually painless and performed while you remain awake and comfortable. Advances in technology have decreased the length of surgery making outpatient eye surgery possible.
If you have a retinal detachment, it could affect your ability to drive. If you've had or currently suffer from a medical condition or disability that may affect your driving you must tell the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
Retinal detachment causes blindness and affects approximately 1 in 10,000.
If the detachment is relatively minor, causing a small hole or tear, the optometrist may recommend treating it using laser surgery or freeze treatment (cryopexy) that is done right there in the office. More serious retinal detachment requires surgery by an ophthalmologist.
What does the operation involve? Various anaesthetic techniques are possible, including a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic that is injected around your eye to numb it. The operation usually takes about 90 minutes. Your surgeon can repair any tears or holes using a laser or by freezing treatment.
How Is a Detached Retina Diagnosed? Your ophthalmologist will put drops in your eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. Then they will look through a special lens to check your retina for any changes.
Resuming physical activity after retinal surgery
Ask your surgeon when you can get back to your normal routine. No strenuous (tough or challenging) exercise for 1 to 2 weeks after most retinal surgery. Light exercise, like walking, may be safe.
Most of the time, the retina can be reattached with one operation. However, some people will need several surgeries. More than 9 out of 10 detachments can be repaired. Failure to repair the retina always results in loss of vision to some degree.
You should avoid exercising for at least 2 weeks following your surgery. You may resume normal activities, little by little. After week 1, you may start by walking as much as a mile. You may advance to 2 miles, in the second week and can typically run by week six.