Retinal Detachment

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retinal detachment

[‚ret·ən·əl di′tach·mənt]
An eye disorder characterized by the separation of the sensory layers of the retina from their supporting foundations.

Retinal Detachment


a disease of the eye in which the retina separates from the outwardly adjacent pigment epithelium. Retinal detachment may be primary, that is, spontaneous, or secondary.

With primary retinal detachment, the retina is ruptured or abrupted from its site of attachment to the pigment epithelium.

It is detached by the vitreous humor, which seeps under it through the rupture. The opening usually originates where the retina degenerates, and thus detachment is most often observed in older persons or in those with severe myopia. Retinal detachment may also result from eye trauma. Patients complain of a dark shadow in front of the eye that appears to travel from a specific side of the visual field, that is, from above, from below, from within, or from without. Another common complaint is photopsia—the illusion of sparks and luminous lines before the eyes. Vision is drastically reduced, and treatment must involve surgery.

The etiology of secondary retinal detachment is associated with other eye diseases, for example, inflammatory and oncological diseases and affections of the vessels of the fundus of the eye. Retinal rupture usually does not occur in secondary detachment. The condition is treated by curing the underlying cause.


References in periodicals archive ?
I'm still not yet in contact training because the medical people have told me that there is still a risk that I might get a detached retina.
Harrison claims he is keen to meet Bruno but hinted that the veteran may not be in the best physical shape after a detached retina forced his retirement.
But if they increase, it may be from a tear that can lead to a detached retina.
Harshad Shah, an ophthalmologist, after another physician diagnosed a detached retina in his right eye.
This exhibition explores art in a variety of media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, and photography through the eyes of artists who have visual impairments such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, monocular vision, detached retina, cataract, color deficiency, and total blindness.
Shipman, has suffered vision problems for years and had an operation to repair a detached retina in June.
It was a detached retina, requiring immediate surgery.
I recently had surgery to repair a detached retina.
Yet, LASER's first medical use was for the cure of detached retina.
On the second day of the trial she told the court of her disability - a detached retina in one eye and partial blindness in the other.
Frequently, a retinal surgeon will be required to shoot upwards of a thousand laser shots into the retina in order to reattach a detached retina during a given procedure.
Returning for the appointment he was examined promptly by a specialist who said that he had a detached retina.