Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment occurs when a tear allows fluid to slip behind the retina, lifting it away from the eye wall. This is an emergency that can permanently affect sight if not treated quickly.
How detachment starts
Most cases begin with a retinal tear, often related to age-related vitreous changes. Fluid then passes through the tear and separates the retina from its nourishing layer.
- Typical symptoms include flashes, new floaters, and a spreading shadow or curtain.
- Central vision may blur if the macula becomes detached.
- Short-sightedness, previous eye surgery, and trauma increase risk.
- Detachment usually affects one eye first but the other eye remains at higher risk.
- Early diagnosis improves the chances of good visual recovery.
Treatment options and recovery
Surgery aims to close the tear and reattach the retina. The exact technique depends on the size and location of the detachment and the patient’s eye health.
- Procedures include vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or pneumatic retinopexy with gas.
- Post-operative positioning is often required to keep the gas bubble in place.
- Vision may take weeks or months to settle and may not return completely to normal.
- Regular follow-up checks for redetachment, cataract, or pressure changes.
- Urgent help for any new floaters, flashes, or shadows can protect long-term sight.
