Diseases

What Causes Retinal Detachments?

Although retinal detachment can occur at any age, it is more common in the middle aged and elderly. Injury is a relatively uncommon cause of retinal detachment.

Most retinal detachments are caused by normal age-related contraction of the vitreous jelly within the eye. The vitreous may pull strongly enough on the retina to cause it to tear. Fluid can leak beneath the torn retina and lift the retina out of place.

This is like film being in the wrong place in a camera. The retina needs to be against the back of the eye in order to maintain vision. In the early stages, retinal tears or small detachments can often be treated with laser or freezing.

Once the retinal detachment is more established, a surgical procedure is necessary. It is very difficult to prevent these types of retinal tears or detachments because they cannot be predicted. Retinal detachments due to trauma can be prevented with adequate eye protection.

Judith Lee