How serious is a retinal tear?

The retina is very thin, and a tear in it is a very serious and potentially blinding problem. If you develop a retinal tear, it can allow for fluid to enter beneath the retina and cause a retinal detachment. Common symptoms of a retinal tear include the sensation of flashes of light in the eye and floaters.

How long does it take to recover from a retinal tear?

You will need 2 to 4 weeks to recover before returning to your normal activities. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

Is a retinal tear an emergency?

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency in which you can permanently lose your vision.

How is a retinal tear treated?

If a retinal tear is diagnosed promptly before it progresses to retinal detachment, the prognosis is extremely good. Retinal tears are typically treated with laser or a freezing procedure (cryotherapy). Treatment is performed in an office setting and is very effective and quite safe.

Can a retinal tear heal on its own?

Can a detached retina heal on its own? Very rarely, retinal detachments are not noticed by the patient and can heal on their own. The vast majority of retinal detachments progress to irreversible vision loss if left untreated so it is important to monitor any changes noticed in your vision.

What are retinal tears and who is at risk?

What is the most common cause of retinal tear?

Aging is the most common cause of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. As you get older, the vitreous in your eye may change in texture and may shrink. Sometimes, as it shrinks, the vitreous can pull on your retina and tear it.

How common is a retinal tear?

The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye cavity like wallpaper. Retinal tears and holes are quite common. In fact, they´re found in about 10% of the population. A healthy, intact retina is essential for a clear vision.

Is retinal tear surgery painful?

Retinal surgery is usually painless and performed while you remain awake and comfortable. Advances in technology have decreased the length of surgery making outpatient eye surgery possible. Before the procedure begins, you will be given anesthetic eye drops that numb the eyes.

How successful is laser surgery for retinal tear?

Repairing retinal tears and detachments is a common though finely nuanced procedure performed with continuous wave high-energy laser delivery that can be performed safely in an outpatient setting with very favorable success rates as high as 98%.

What are the symptoms of a retinal tear?

How long does it take to go blind from retinal detachment?

A retinal detachment may cause permanent blindness over a matter of days and should be considered an eye emergency until evaluated by a retina specialist. Most retinal detachments occur suddenly and can threaten the central vision within hours or days.

How do you get a retinal tear?

A retinal tear is a small break in this inner lining. Retinal tears can have many causes and can happen at any age. Aging, eye trauma, eye surgery or being drastically nearsighted may cause retinal tears or detachments. If not treated properly, a retinal tear may lead to retinal detachment.

Do floaters go away after retinal tear laser surgery?

Therefore, most of the time there will be no noticeable change in the peripheral vision from the tear or the laser treatment. The laser treatment does not treat the floaters or flashing lights. These typically resolve gradually on their own over a period of weeks to months.

How long do you have to stay face down after retina surgery?

Patients having vitreo-retinal surgery for a macular hole will need to posture face down for 14 days; for other conditions this is only necessary for 5 days.

Can rubbing your eyes cause a retinal tear?

In general, eye rubbing alone will not lead to retinal tears or detachment. You would have to press and rub your eyes very hard to damage or detach the retina. However, excessive and aggressive eye rubbing is a bad habit that can potentially harm the cornea or cause eye irritation.

How do you sleep after retinal tear surgery?

Face down (“eyes down”) posturing is only required during waking hours, not when you're sleeping. It is recommended to sleep on either side or even your front, but not sleep on your back as that would make the bubble move away from the macular hole.

Does laser surgery for retinal tear hurt?

Most retinal laser treatments involve only mild discomfort. Depending on the type of treatment, different anesthetics are used. Many treatments require only anesthetic eye drops, which numb the eye. Some laser treatments, however, involve greater discomfort, and occasionally an anesthetic injection is required.

How long does retinal surgery take?

Retinal reattachment surgery usually takes one-two hours to perform. It is typically performed the under local anesthesia so that you are awake and comfortable during the procedure and have minimal complications from anesthesia postoperatively.

Are you put to sleep for eye surgery?

Eye muscle surgery requires either general anesthesia or local anesthesia to provide adequate pain control. General anesthesia, which puts the whole body “to sleep” and eliminates the possibility of movement, is commonly used.

What is the difference between a retinal tear and a retinal detachment?

Your retina could tear before it detaches. A torn retina usually has the same symptoms as a detached one. If your retina gets torn, the fluid inside your eye can leak underneath and separate the retina from its underlying tissue. That's a retinal detachment.

Will glasses help after retinal detachment?

Glasses may or may not help with vision after surgery. The retina is very similar to the film in a camera. It has to be healthy to get a clear picture. In a camera with damaged film, having a more powerful lens on the front of the camera may not result in a clear picture.

How can retinal tear be prevented?

How can I prevent retinal detachment? Since retinal detachment is often caused by aging, there's often no way to prevent it. But you can lower your risk of retinal detachment from an eye injury by wearing safety goggles or other protective eye gear when doing risky activities, like playing sports.

Can stress cause retinal detachment?

The simple answer is no, stress cannot cause retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is due to tears in the peripheral retina. Retinal detachment occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 people and can occur at any age but is more likely to affect people over age 40.

Why am I seeing flashes of light in the corner of my eye?

Vitreous humor is a gel-like substance that fills the majority of your eyeball. This gel allows light to enter the eye via the lens, and it is connected to the retina. If vitreous gel bumps or pulls on the retina, you may see flashes of light in the corner of your eye.

Can you drive after retinal tear surgery?

Generally, driving can be resumed in several days if you have good vision in your other eye. If you do not feel comfortable driving, do not drive! Your depth perception may be decreased, so you will want to try driving during the day in light traffic until you feel comfortable driving.