Retinal Detachment: MedlinePlus [NEW TOPIC PAGE]

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Retinal Detachment: MedlinePlus

 

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Retinal Detachment

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The retina is a layer of tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain. It provides the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A retinal detachment lifts or pulls the retina from its normal position. It can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over age 40. It affects men more than women and whites more than African Americans. A retinal detachment is also more likely to occur in people who

• Are extremely nearsighted
• Have had a retinal detachment in the other eye
• Have a family history of retinal detachment
• Have had cataract surgery
• Have other eye diseases or disorders
• Have had an eye injury

Symptoms include an increase in the number of floaters, which are little "cobwebs" or specks that float about in your field of vision, and/or light flashes in the eye. It may also seem like there is a "curtain" over your field of vision.
A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If not promptly treated, it can cause permanent vision loss. If you have any symptoms, see an eye care professional immediately. Treatment includes different types of surgery.

NIH: National Eye Institute

 

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Retinal detachment
• Retinal detachment repair
• Retinal detachment repair - slideshow

Related Topics

• Retinal Disorders
• Eyes and Vision

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Retinal Detachment is the National Eye Institute

 

Start Here

• Retinal Detachment(National Eye Institute)
• Retinal Tear and Detachment(Patient Education Institute)
• Also available in Spanish  

• Overviews

  • JAMA Patient Page: Retinal Detachment(American Medical Association)
  • Retinal Detachment(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Retinal Detachment: What Is a Torn or Detached Retina?(Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Retinal Detachment: Torn or Detached Retina Diagnosis(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Retinal Detachment: Torn or Detached Retina Symptoms(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Treatment

  • Retinal detachment repair - slideshow
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Retinal Detachment: Torn or Detached Retina Treatment(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Related Issues

  • Facts about Floaters(National Eye Institute)
  • Vitreous Detachment(National Eye Institute)
  • Return to top

• Pictures & Photographs

  • Flashes and Floaters(Logical Images)
  • Retinal Detachment Vision Simulator(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Tutorials

  • Retinal Tear and Detachment(Patient Education Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Videos

  • If I Had - Flashing Lights and Floaters(Insidermedicine)
  • Return to top

• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Retinal Detachment(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Internal limiting membrane peeling for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.
  • Article: Intravitreal low molecular weight heparin and 5-Fluorouracil for the prevention...
  • Article: Update on retinal detachment surgery.
  • Retinal Detachment -- see more articles
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries

  • Glossary of Eye Conditions(American Foundation for the Blind)
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• Directories

  • Find an Eye M.D.(American Academy of Ophthalmology)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Finding an Eye Care Professional(National Eye Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Organizations

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Foundation Fighting Blindness
  • National Eye Institute
  • Prevent Blindness America
  • Return to top

• Patient Handouts

  • Retinal detachment
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Retinal detachment repair
  • Also available in Spanish