Retinal Detachment (Secondary): Description, Indications, and Remedies
Retinal detachment is a serious eye condition that requires immediate medical attention. This condition occurs when the retina, a layer of tissue lining the back of the eye, separates from the blood vessels that feed it.
There are two main types of retinal detachment: secondary and exudative.
Secondary Retinal Detachment
Secondary retinal detachment is often due to mechanical causes such as retinal tears, vitreous pulling on the retina, or trauma. In this type, a tear or hole in the retina allows fluid to seep under it, causing the detachment. Trauma, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and retinal tears are common associations with secondary retinal detachment. Treatment typically involves surgical repair to seal tears and relieve traction.
Exudative Retinal Detachment
On the other hand, exudative retinal detachment occurs without retinal tears. Instead, fluid accumulates beneath the retina due to leakage from inflamed, abnormal, or pathologically permeable blood vessels or cells. This fluid build-up is often linked to vascular, inflammatory, systemic diseases, or tumors. Common associations include Coats' disease, tumors (like retinoblastoma), and inflammatory or systemic diseases. Treatment usually involves addressing the underlying disease, and in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Distinguishing between the two types is crucial for effective treatment. While doctors and scientists may refer to secondary retinal detachment as exudative retinal detachment, they are distinct conditions with different causes and treatments.
Surgical treatment options for retinal detachment include vitrectomy, scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy, laser surgery, and cryosurgery. A funduscopic exam, using an ophthalmoscope to examine the back of the inner eye, is the main diagnostic tool.
Common symptoms of retinal detachment include impaired vision, a lot of new floaters, flashes of light, and a dark shadow or "curtain" affecting the sides or middle of the field of vision. Retinal detachment can affect one or both eyes.
Preventing injury to the eye can help prevent retinal detachment due to injury. Anyone with symptoms of retinal detachment needs to seek medical attention immediately. A 2018 study states that the risk of further detachment persists despite an initially effective surgical treatment for certain forms of retinal detachment.
After surgical treatment for a first retinal detachment, every further surgery increases the risk of recurrent retinal detachment by 21-26%. This risk underscores the importance of careful management and ongoing care for those who have experienced retinal detachment.
For more information on eye health, visit our dedicated hub. It's always better to be informed and take care of your eyesight.
- Science and medical-conditions have contributed significantly to the understanding of retinal detachment, as there are two main types – secondary retinal detachment, which can be caused by retinal tears, vitreous pulling, or trauma, and exudative retinal detachment, which occurs without retinal tears and is often linked to vascular, inflammatory, or systemic diseases.
- Health-and-wellness, including eye-health, emphasizes the importance of seeking immediate medical attention for retinal problems, as early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further complications, recurrence, and potential vision loss.
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