Symptoms of a Retinal Tear

A retinal tear is a break in the retinal layer of the eye that can lead to the retina separating from the place it is attached to. It is a very serious eye condition. The symptoms of a retinal tear are a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, spots moving in the eye or darkening of vision. People generally feel no pain where a tear has formed in the retina. They do face serious problems with their sight, however. Where symptoms of this kind are met, a doctor should be consulted quickly before permanent damage forms. The best way of preventing a retinal tear or of diagnosing it early is regular check-ups with a doctor. Thanks to those check-ups, where there is a condition it is diagnosed early and a treatment plan is put into action quickly. Through early diagnosis it is possible to prevent sight loss before permanent damage forms.

What Causes a Retinal Tear?

One of the most important causes of a retinal tear forming is myopia. The risk is high in people with high myopia, that is to say above six dioptres. Alongside that, it can appear in older people as the structure of the fluid within the eye deteriorates. Although there is more than one cause, in some situations it cannot be established which of them the tear is due to. Examinations should therefore always be attended at regular intervals so that doctors can make an early diagnosis. The causes can be listed as follows:

• In patients with high myopia of six dioptres and above, it can appear because of thinning of the retina.
• In later life, deterioration in the structure of the gel-like fluid within the eye, the vitreous.
• Injuries to the eye or trauma.
• People with a retinal tear in the family generally have a genetic predisposition. That increases their own risk.
• Operations undergone previously, or serious eye conditions.
• Weakening of the retinal tissue because of certain conditions.
• Tension forming in the retina as the vitreous fluid reduces or begins to pull away, and tears occurring with it.
• Infections forming in the eyeball.
• Structural abnormalities present in the eyeball.
• In some situations where the cause is unknown and no diagnosis can be made, a retinal tear can still form.

How is a Retinal Tear Diagnosed?

To diagnose a retinal tear, doctors first listen to the patient's history. At this stage they hear about the conditions the patient has had before, the medication they use regularly and the eye conditions in their family. They then ask what the patient's symptoms and problems are. Once the general history has been taken, drops are first placed in the patient's pupils. Thanks to those drops the eyes are dilated and made ready for examination. The inside of the eye and the area around it are then checked by the doctor using an examination microscope and various lenses. As a result of that check, the doctor can diagnose a retinal tear easily. A retinal tear can also be detected during regular check-ups. Once the condition has been detected, a treatment plan is assessed according to the patient's situation.

How is a Retinal Tear Treated?

In planning treatment for a retinal tear, the extent of the damage in the patient's eyes matters. As technology has advanced, there is now more than one method of treatment. Those methods are these:

• Argon laser treatment

This is used in situations where there is only a tear in the retina. Through the laser treatment carried out, the place where the tear lies is sealed. It is an outpatient procedure, and the patient generally goes home the same day.

• Vitrectomy

This is used when the tear has progressed to retinal detachment. In this method of treatment, the surgeon generally removes the clear gel-like tissue filling the eyeball and injects gas (SF6 or C3F8) or a silicone oil tamponade into that space. The retina is thereby returned to its former position. Alongside this treatment, laser and gas or silicone tamponade methods can also be used during the procedure according to the size of the tear.

• Scleral buckle

This is a surgical technique in which the eye is approached from the outside. Thin bands made of silicone are placed beneath the muscles of the eye, under the conjunctival layer covering the white of the eye. Thanks to those thin bands, the retina is allowed to settle back into place.