A detached retina is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye. The
retina does not work when it is detached, making vision blurry. As we get
older, the
vitreous gel in our eyes starts to shrink
and get thinner. As the eye moves, the vitreous moves around on the retina
without causing problems. But sometimes the vitreous may stick to the retina
and pull hard enough to tear it. When that happens, fluid can pass through the
tear and lift or detach the retina.
Who
is at Risk of a Detached Retina?
Patients who are at greater risk for detached
retina are those who:
>Are nearsighted and need glasses to see
far away
>Have had eye surgery such as cataract surgery
>Have had a serious eye injury
>Have had a retinal tear or detachment in the other eye
>Have family members who had retinal detachment
>Have weakened areas in their retina from thinning or
degeneration
What
are Symptoms or Warning Signs of a Detached Retina?
>Sudden Flashes of
Light. Some people say this is
like seeing stars after being hit in the eye.
>New Floaters. These can look like specks, lines or cobwebs in
your field of vision.
>A Shadow
in Your Side Vision.
>A Gray
Curtain covering part of your field of vision.
A detached retina is a serious problem. If you
experience any warning signs of a detached retina you need to have it examined
immediately or you risk losing vision. Please call Northwest Indiana Eye
& Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana
Eye & Laser Center, or Facebook.
Northwest Indiana Eye &
Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana
46383 and 1003 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.