Retinal detachment occurs when the thin lining at the back of your eye called the retina (see diagram, left) begins to pull away from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients.
Without prompt treatment, it will lead to blindness in the affected eye.
Warning signs
Most people will experience warning signs that indicate that their retina is at risk of detaching before permanent loss of vision occurs. These are:
- the sudden appearance of floaters – dark spots that float in your field of vision
- sudden short flashes of light in one eye
Contact your GP immediately if you get any of these warning signs.
Read more about the symptoms of retinal detachment.
Treatment
The quicker retinal detachment is treated, the less risk there is of permanent loss of some or all vision occurring in the affected eye. Most cases are successfully treated with surgery – usually by reattaching the retina with fine bands of silicone.
Read more about treating retinal detachment.
Causes
The most common cause of retinal detachment is that the retina can become thinner and more brittle with age and tear away from the underlying blood vessels.
A direct injury to the eye can be another cause, but this is less common.
Read more about the causes of retinal detachment.
Who is affected
Retinal detachment is a rare condition. Only 1 in every 10,000 people would develop a new case of retinal detachment in any given year in England.
As retinal detachment is associated with ageing, most cases affect older adults aged between 50 and 75.
Retinal detachment that is caused by an injury can affect people of any age, including children.
