Detached retinas are caused when the retina becomes separated from the other layers of the eyeball. Since these areas of the eyeball are responsible for providing the retina with nourishment and support, this condition can lead to blindness if not treated. The disorder is relatively uncommon in the United States, with only about one in every 10,000 people having it.
The visual impairment caused by detached retinas depends on where they become detached. If they become detached near the macula, for example, the person may have an impairment in the middle of his or her visual field. If the detachment occurs near the outside edge of the retina, however, the vision loss may have the effect of a curtain shading one portion of the visual field. This is commonly referred to as the curtain effect. Other symptoms include seeing floaters, which are dark, floating shapes or bright, brief flashes of light.
There are many causes of detached retinas. Most are caused by a hole or a tear in the retina. As a result of the hole, the eye’s vitreous fluid leaks through and collects behind the retina. The pressure from the fluid slowly causes the retina to become detached from the eye.
Trauma to the head or face can damage the retinas as well. Aging can also lead to detached retinas, as the vitreous fluid changes in consistency and begins putting pressure on the retina. In this case, there is no way to prevent the detachment, which happen unexpectedly.
People who are severely nearsighted may also experience detached retinas. This is because the eyeball of an extremely nearsighted person is very long. This shape cause the vitreous fluid to place excessive stress on the retina.
Individuals who have undergone cataract surgery are also more prone to this condition. In fact, approximately 3% of those who have had the surgery will later have detached retinas. This is likely due to the vitreous fluid becoming watery inside the eye after surgery, rather than gel-like as it is supposed to be.
Men are also 50% more likely to develop detached retinas than women. In addition, those suffering from diabetes are at an increased risk. This is due to diabetic retinopathy, which is brought on by unusual or unstable levels of blood sugar.