Detached Retina May Be Medical Emergency

According to a recent Johns Hopkins University Health Alert, a detached retina may be a medical emergency that can result in blindness.  As you edge over age 40, the vitreous — the clear gel-like substance inside your eyes — begins to liquify and shrink. Within the gel are millions of fibers attached to the retina, the light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the interior of the eye. As the gel shrinks, the fibers break, allowing the vitreous to peel away from the retina, a process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)

From time to time nearly everyone experiences floater – - small dots, lines, clouds, or "cobwebs" across the visual field.  In most cases the floaters are harmless, but they may indicate that the retina is tearing or in danger of detaching.

In 10-15% of people who have PVD with symptoms, some of the vitreous fibers pull so hard as they naturally separate from the retina that they create a tear or hole, especially in the thin retinal peripheral tissue. Vitreous fluid then has the opportunity to leak through the tear, which can cause the retina to detach from the back wall of the eye. This is a sight-threatening situation: If the tear is not repaired, the retina can detach completely.

Bottom line: Although you can’t prevent or treat PVD, you can try to prevent its repercussions by alerting your doctor at the first sign of floaters, flashes of light, or any change in side vision. It is usually possible to repair a retinal tear, but a tear can also evolve quickly to retinal detachment. So don’t wait to see whether floaters discontinue when you suddenly begin to notice lots of them. Even if no retinal tear appears, your doctor can help you stay alert for that possibility.

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