Alternate title: retinal detachment View All (3)  detached
retina, eye disorder involving separation of the transparent
light-sensing portion of the retina from the underlying layer of
supporting cells known as the retinal pigment epithelium. Most
commonly, retinal detachments are caused by the passage of fluid
through a break, or tear, in the retina, a situation called
rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The fluid is derived from the
aging vitreous gel that fills the central eyeball space. The
retinal break can result from a number of different mechanisms,
including trauma or degenerative changes in the peripheral
retina.  Most retinal breaks or tears, however, are the result
of the natural changes of the vitreous gel that are often
experienced with aging. The vitreous gel is physically attached
to the retina, but, if the gel pulls away, the gel’s surface
usually releases its hold, creating a benign posterior vitreal
detachment without a retinal tear. If, however, a portion of the
retina is torn during this p