Dec 20
f

Detached Retina

A detached retina is a condition wherein the retina gets separated from the underlying supportive tissue. Find out more about it here as well as what the treatment for retinal detachment is.

A detached retina is a serious condition that occurs when the retina gets separated from the supportive tissue underlying it. The retina loses its ability to function when it becomes detached, and if it is not reattached soon, it can result in permanent loss of vision.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Retinal Detachment?

Some of the warning signs of a detached retina are sudden occurrences of flashes of light, floaters, and spots in the eyes. The vision might get poorer or become blurry. Another symptom is seeing a curtain or a shadow coming across from the side of the eye or coming down from the top. These symptoms may occur all of a sudden, in case the retina detaches suddenly, or it may be a more gradual process as the retina slowly detaches from the tissue supporting it.

A detached retina does not cause any pain. Hence, if the above symptoms occur, an ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, needs to be consulted immediately. Prompt treatment increases the chances of regaining loss of vision.

What are the Causes of a Detached Retina?

A detached retina can be caused by various factors such as a high degree of nearsightedness, or an injury to the face or eye. The eyeballs in people with extreme nearsightedness are longer, accompanied by thinner retinas, which are more susceptible to getting detached. Sometimes, a detached retina may also occur following LASIK surgery performed on very nearsighted people. However, this is rare, according to a study conducted on over 1,500 patients who had had LASIK surgery, just four of them suffered the detachment of their retina.

Retinal detach may also occur due to systemic diseases like sickle cell disease and diabetes, or eye diseases, tumors in the eye, and cataract surgery. When new blood vessels grow under the retina, which can occur in diseases like diabetic retinopathy, it may result in pushing the retina away from its underlying supportive tissue as well. Occasionally, the movement of fluids in the eye can also result in detaching the retina.

How can Retinal Detachment be Treated?

The detached retina can be treated by it being reattached by an eye surgeon. Laser photocoagulation, a technique by which leaking blood vessels can be sealed off and at the same time destroying the growth of new blood vessels, is another method of reattaching the retina.

Silicone oil is also injected in the eye by some eye surgeons so that the detached retina can be kept in place. Pneumatic retinopexy, which is a treatment that is similar, involving a bubble of gas being injected in the vitreous humor, which is the clear and colorless gel that fills the posterior portion of the eyeball, can also be used. This achieves the purpose by the gas bubble expanding and pressing against the retina, thereby holding it against the supportive tissue. After that, photocoagulation or cryosurgery can be used to reattach the retina permanently.

The loss of vision due to retinal detachment can sometimes be regained after treatment. The faster the retinal reattachment procedure is carried out, the higher the chances of recovering vision.

By Rita Putatunda
Published: 1/15/2008

 Mail this post
Dec 20


Detached Retina

A detached retina is a condition wherein the retina gets separated from the underlying supportive tissue. Find out more about it here as well as what the treatment for retinal detachment is.

A detached retina is a serious condition that occurs when the retina gets separated from the supportive tissue underlying it. The retina loses its ability to function when it becomes detached, and if it is not reattached soon, it can result in permanent loss of vision.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Retinal Detachment?

Some of the warning signs of a detached retina are sudden occurrences of flashes of light, floaters, and spots in the eyes. The vision might get poorer or become blurry. Another symptom is seeing a curtain or a shadow coming across from the side of the eye or coming down from the top. These symptoms may occur all of a sudden, in case the retina detaches suddenly, or it may be a more gradual process as the retina slowly detaches from the tissue supporting it.

A detached retina does not cause any pain. Hence, if the above symptoms occur, an ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, needs to be consulted immediately. Prompt treatment increases the chances of regaining loss of vision.

What are the Causes of a Detached Retina?

A detached retina can be caused by various factors such as a high degree of nearsightedness, or an injury to the face or eye. The eyeballs in people with extreme nearsightedness are longer, accompanied by thinner retinas, which are more susceptible to getting detached. Sometimes, a detached retina may also occur following LASIK surgery performed on very nearsighted people. However, this is rare, according to a study conducted on over 1,500 patients who had had LASIK surgery, just four of them suffered the detachment of their retina.

Retinal detach may also occur due to systemic diseases like sickle cell disease and diabetes, or eye diseases, tumors in the eye, and cataract surgery. When new blood vessels grow under the retina, which can occur in diseases like diabetic retinopathy, it may result in pushing the retina away from its underlying supportive tissue as well. Occasionally, the movement of fluids in the eye can also result in detaching the retina.

How can Retinal Detachment be Treated?

The detached retina can be treated by it being reattached by an eye surgeon. Laser photocoagulation, a technique by which leaking blood vessels can be sealed off and at the same time destroying the growth of new blood vessels, is another method of reattaching the retina.

Silicone oil is also injected in the eye by some eye surgeons so that the detached retina can be kept in place. Pneumatic retinopexy, which is a treatment that is similar, involving a bubble of gas being injected in the vitreous humor, which is the clear and colorless gel that fills the posterior portion of the eyeball, can also be used. This achieves the purpose by the gas bubble expanding and pressing against the retina, thereby holding it against the supportive tissue. After that, photocoagulation or cryosurgery can be used to reattach the retina permanently.

The loss of vision due to retinal detachment can sometimes be regained after treatment. The faster the retinal reattachment procedure is carried out, the higher the chances of recovering vision.

By Rita Putatunda
Published: 1/15/2008
 Mail this post
Dec 19

LASIK and PRK Blog in San Diego

ClearView Eye and Laser Medica…   Read more…

Lasik Vision Surgery: New Technology Prevents Side Effects

“Most significant,” says U…   Read more…

What happens before laser vision correction surgery?

After the necessary measuremen…   Read more…

 Mail this post
Dec 19

 Mail this post
Dec 9

 Mail this post
Dec 9

 Mail this post
Dec 9

Age-Related Farsightedness May Affect More Than 1 Billion Worldwide

Age-Related Farsightedness May…   Read more…

Clinical I Latex Free Stethoscopes by Prestige Medical

 Mail this post
Dec 9

Air Optix Astigmatism Adds Additional Parameters | AC Lens

New parameters have been added…   Read more…

Laser Eye Surgery Procedures. LASIK and other refractive surgeries

Astigmatism makes it di…   Read more…

Information on farsightedness (hyperopia) at MedicineNet.com

Learn about farsightedness, wh…   Read more…

Femtosecond LASIK effective for post-RK hyperopia in study

Performing LASIK using a femto…   Read more…

LASIK Eye Surgery Wavefront guided LASIK. Eyes with consecutive

(1) Bababeygy SR, Zoumalan CI,…   Read more…

Welcome to the Home of Hyperopia.: WHATEVER ELSE MAY BE …

Welcome to the Home of Hype…   Read more…

how does astigmatism affect your vision?

blurred vision, ‘ghosting’…   Read more…

 Mail this post
Dec 9
 Mail this post
Dec 9

How To Attain Beautiful Eyes And Look Younger, More Vibrant

Looking more vibrant and younger is not just about having smooth radiant skin. More than you realize, you need to take good care of your eyes and the area surrounding them as well. Having dark under-eye circles and eye bags can make you look haggard, older and ugly even if you have a slim body or supple skin all over. By ensuring that the area around your eyes is not puffy and discolored, you can greatly improve your appearance. So, here’s how:

Avoid To Much Alcohol and Salt

Too much alcohol and salt in the body can cause the skin under your eyes to store more fluids. This is the reason why, more often than not, people who love salty foods and alcoholic beverages have eye bags. And it will not even take you weeks or months to be able to observe the bad effects of alcohol and salt in your under-eye area. Usually, the morning following a night of booze and salty food-binging will reveal swollen ugly eyes.

Cigarrest to Stop Smoking in 7 Days!
Say No To Smoking

Smoking has always been an unhealthy habit. But aside from the diseases that it can cause, smoking can also bring about eye bags and under-eye skin discoloration. It has also been found to trigger the development of wrinkles and ugly lines not just on the skin on the face but elsewhere in the body. With more than 4,000 toxic substances per puff, smoking is a surefire way to make yourself look older and haggard.

Handle Your Eyes With Total Care

The area surrounding your eyes may be the most sensitive patch of skin on your body. And because of its delicateness, it is imperative that you touch or handle it with total care. Some people rub and scrub the skin surrounding the eyes, especially when taking a bath. Doing so can cause the premature development of unwanted lines and wrinkles in the area. One more thing, as part of overall eye care, make it a point to only use products that are specially made for use in the eye area.

Avoid Squinting

If you really want to maintain great-looking eyes, you need to stop squinting. You think a habit as insignificant as squinting can not affect the skin around your eyes? Well, it can. Whenever you try to narrow your eyes to focus on what you are reading or looking at, you unintentionally form folds on your eye area which can develop into permanent lines or wrinkles. Your solution to this is to use good reading glasses or have an eye correction. This way you will never have to squint to adjust your focus.

Avoid Strong Sunlight All The Times

Strong sunlight brings in strong UV rays. And UV rays can severely damage the skin, much more the sensitive area surrounding your eyes. To protect your eyes and skin, always avoid going outdoor when the sun is at its brightest, specifically from 10AM to 3PM. But if you really must be outside and exposed to the sun, you can always find protection in sunscreens or sun block lotion.

As for your eye area, added protection from the sun can be had using a good pair of shades whenever you are outside. Eye shades are not just about looks; they can definitely protect your sensitive eye area and even reduce your risk of having eye diseases like macular degeneration.

Apply Eye Cream Regularly

The area surrounding your eyes needs a lot of moisture to make it stronger and less sensitive. To do this, you need to apply moisturizing products that are specially made for your eye area. Choose eye products that use natural moisturizers so that you will minimize the chances of having unwanted skin reactions. One such product is Eyevive.

By: Janet Martin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine. www.thearticleinsiders.com. For more information, you can visit www.eyevive.com/.

 Mail this post

« Previous Entries