Understanding Retinal Detachment: Information For You

Retinal detachment is an eye problem that most people do not understand. In fact, many have never even heard of retinal detachment, that is until it happens to them or to someone they care about. In order to understand this eye condition and the ways that it can be treated, you need to get all of the facts about retinal detachment including the symptoms to watch out for and the treatment options.  

What Are The Signs Of Retinal Detachment?

Suffering from a detached retina is not the most common occurrence in the world, and many people fail to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disorder as they occur. One of the first signs that a person's retina has detached is that they see flashing lights or spots in their vision. Many people will disregard this as being overly tired, getting a migraine headache, or other such common occurrence. 

Additional signs of retinal detachment can include a feeling as if a veil or curtain has been pulled over the person's field of vision, meaning they can still see but it feels as if it is somehow blocked or fuzzy. Because the signs of retinal detachment are not extremely painful, many people do not take them as seriously as they should. But any vision disturbances such as these should send you straight to the ophthalmologist's office. 

What Are The Treatments For Retinal Detachment?

If you go to the ophthalmologist at the first sign of retinal issues, you may be able to get in before your retina is fully detached. This means that you may be able to treat the issue and adhere the retina back to the structure of your eye using cryopexy or laser surgery.

Cryopexy is the use of a freezing technology that freezes the damaged area of the retina (where it is tearing away from the structure of the eye) and helps to reattach and heal the tear. Laser surgery, on the other hand, uses light energy at high heat to stop the tearing from progressing and re-adhering the retina to the eye.

If your retina has fully detached, then you will need surgery to correct the issue. Your eye surgeon (such as someone from http://www.drgrantmdretinalspecialist.com) will reattach your retina to the outside of your eyeball using a form of banding to ensure it is attached. Additional procedures may be necessary depending on the damage that has occurred including an incision in the white of the eye so that a gas can be injected into the area. This helps push the eyeball against the retina to ensure that they adhere together. 

Now that you know more about retinal detachment, you can know what you can expect if the situation ever happens to you or to somebody you love.


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