A retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always causes blindness unless treated. The appearance of flashing lights, floating objects or a gray curtain moving across your field of vision can be an indication of a retinal detachment. If any of these occur, see an Indiana Eye Clinic ophthalmologist right away.

As you get older, the clear, gel-like substance that fills the inside of the eye (vitreous) tends to shrink and becomes more watery. Sometimes as the vitreous shrinks, it exerts enough force on the retina to cause a tear.

Retinal tears increase the chance of developing a retinal detachment. Vitreous fluids, passing through the tear, lifts the retina off the back of the eye like wallpaper peeling off a wall. Laser surgery or cryotherapy (freezing) are often used to seal retinal tears and prevent detachment.

If the retina is detached, it must be reattached before sealing the retinal tear. There are three ways to repair retinal detachments.

Pneumatic retinopathy involves injecting a special gas bubble into the eye that pushes on the retina to seal the tear.
The scleral buckle procedure requires the fluid to be drained from under the retina before a flexible piece of silicone is sewn on the outer eyewall to give support to the tear as it heals.
Vitrectomy surgery removes the vitreous gel from the eye, replacing it with a gas bubble, which is slowly replaced by the body’s fluids.

If you have any questions or have any of the above symptoms, call us at 317-881-3937.