Retinal Detachment

When the retinal tissue tears or detaches completely, causing blurred vision or blindness.

The retina itself is nerve tissue nestled toward the front end of the eye. It receives light and sends messages to the brain about what visual images are being perceived. When that thin tissue tears or detaches completely, it can cause blurred vision or even blindness. Surgical repairs are the only available treatment methods.

How Retinal Detachment Impacts Vision

Floaters, which are in this case caused by vitreous gel shrinking and detaching itself from the retina, begin to appear in streaming flashes of lightning-like streaks. Eventually, these happen more frequently, and result in a loss of peripheral vision that culminates into a variety of other vision-loss problems.

Retinal Detachment Causes

Posterior vitreous detachment (the separation of the gel from the retina) occurs upon aging, and tears the retina like tape adhesive ripping apart skin. Diabetes, myopia, traumatic head injuries, and other eye conditions are all common warning signs of retinal detachment.