Retinal detachment

What is retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment is when the layer of light-sensing cells (photoreceptors) in the retina begins to pull away from the supporting tissue underneath it. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye, and it's made up of different layers, which need to stay in place to work correctly. 

The supporting tissue contains blood vessels that supply the photoreceptors with the food and oxygen they need to stay healthy. A detached retina can cause permanent sight loss in the affected eye if it isn’t detected and repaired with surgery quickly, so it needs urgent assessment by a specialist eye surgeon.

What causes retinal detachment?

The main cause of a retinal detachment is when a tear or break in the retina allows fluid from the middle part of the eye, the vitreous cavity, to leak through underneath it. This pushes the layer of light-sensing cells in the retina away from the supporting layer underneath.

This most usually happens when the watery vitreous gel in the eye separates from the retina. This is linked to ageing and is most common between the ages of 50 and 70. 

An eye injury, or blow to the head or some other medical conditions that affect the retina may also lead to a retinal detachment.

Anyone can develop a retinal detachment at any time, but it is most common in those over the age of 40, and very rare in children. People who are very short-sighted, have had eye surgery in the past, or who have a family history of retinal detachment are at an increased risk of developing the condition. If you've experienced a detached retina in one eye, you are at higher risk of it happening in the other eye.

What are the signs and symptoms of retinal detachment?

The symptoms of a retinal detachment can either happen very suddenly or may come on more gradually. Symptoms can include:

• your sight becomes blurred 
• floaters (the tiny spots or lines that seem to float across your vision) in your eye
• flashes of light around the edges of your vision, or
• a dark ‘curtain-like’ shadow coming from the top or the side of your eye

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, see an eye health professional (such as an optician or hospital eye doctor) within 24 hours. These symptoms don’t always mean you have a retinal detachment, but it’s really important to have an eye examination to check.

Is retinal detachment serious?  

A detached retina can cause permanent sight loss in the affected eye if it isn’t detected and repaired with surgery quickly. If you experience any signs of a retinal detachment, it’s important to have someone examine your eye within 24 hours.

You can see an optician, but they may refer you straight away to your local A&E department so that you can see an ophthalmologist (hospital eye doctor) as soon as possible.

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How is retinal detachment diagnosed?

An eye health professional will usually examine the back of your eyes using a special lens and bright light to look for holes, tears or detachments to the retina. They may also carry out imaging tests to look more closely at the layers of retinal tissue for signs of damage.

What can help retinal detachment?

If you've had an examination for a retinal detachment and you're concerned about further symptoms, contact your hospital eye clinic as quickly as possible. If you experience any signs of a retinal detachment, it’s important to have your eye examined within 24 hours.

Getting any possible symptoms checked out quickly – and treated if necessary – can reduce the risk of a detachment occurring.

Wearing eye protection during activities such as DIY or sports can reduce the risk of an injury that can cause a detachment. Have your eyes tested every two years even if you think your vision is fine. An eye test can spot some eye conditions and, if caught early, treatment may prevent further deterioration.

What research is there into retinal detachment?  

Fight for Sight's Research Strategy has pledged to spend over 20 million on pioneering eye research over the next five years. If you're personally affected by retinal detachment and are interested in fundraising to help us fund cutting-edge research in this area find out how to set up a family fund.