A retinal detachment is a severe type of eye damage in which your retina is actually torn off the back of your eye. If you suffer from a retinal detachment, you could experience severe symptoms, including blindness, if you don’t get treatment immediately. At Retina Institute of Michigan, retina treatment and surgery specialist Anu Patel, MD, offers detachment solutions, including both laser therapy and surgery, to help you keep your vision. Call the office in Bingham Farms or send us a message through our website.
What is retinal detachment?
Retinal detachment is a severe vision-threatening condition in which your retina is lifted off the back of your eye. It most commonly happens when you have a retinal tear due to age-related shrinking of the vitreous body gel in your eye. If your retina and vitreous don’t separate cleanly, you can develop a tear.
When inner-eye fluid washes through that tear, it can lift your retina completely away from the back of your eye, resulting in retinal detachment or a detached retina. When your retina’s not in place, it affects vision immediately. If you don’t get treatment for retinal detachment, you could go blind.
What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?
Retinal detachment can cause sudden symptoms, including:
- Large amounts of floaters
- Bright flashes of light
- Blurry vision
- Black curtain over a portion of your peripheral vision
These symptoms are serious, and there’s no time to waste if you’re dealing with a suspected retinal tear or detachment. Call Retina Institute of Michigan for help right away.
What is the treatment for retinal detachment?
In some cases, retinal tears are treatable with laser therapy. This can prevent the tear from turning into a retinal detachment.
Pneumatic retinopexy
If your retinal detachment is recent, Dr. Patel may perform pneumatic retinopexy, in which she injects a gas bubble into your eye to help move your retina into position in the back of your eye. She uses a laser in this procedure as well.
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is a procedure in which Dr. Patel takes the vitreous body out of your eye and then injects an air or gas bubble to replace it.
Scleral buckle
A scleral buckle procedure, Dr. Patel places a silicone band over the damaged part of your eye. It relieves pressure and helps your retina re-establish itself in place. In a severe retinal detachment, the scleral buckle could go all around your eye. It won’t interfere with your vision.
Dr. Patel is an extremely experienced and skilled retinal specialist who can perform all types of retina surgeries. She creates a customized surgical solution for your needs so you can retain your vision.
Call the Retina Institute of Michigan to get help for retinal detachment or any other retina-related issues today.