A retinal tear is a common age-related eye condition.
It causes eye floaters and flashes of light and may lead to more severe vision problems.
On its own, a torn retina will not damage your eyesight.
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However, prompt treatment is needed.
A retinal tear can quickly progress to aretinal detachment, which can cause permanent vision loss.
This article discusses retinal tears.
It examines the symptoms, causes, and complications that can occur from a torn retina.
It also explains when to see a vision specialist and how a torn retina is treated.
What Is a Retinal Tear?
Theretinais a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye.
This process is known as posterior vitreous detachment.
Most of the time, this happens without causing problems.
When this happens, the retina is unable to receive and process light.
As a result, it sends distorted images to the brainor none at all.
Left untreated, the hole will grow, casting a dark shadow or blindspot in one eye.
Vitreous Hemorrhage
A retinal tear can cause blood to leak into the vitreous, known as a vitreous hemorrhage.
Call your eye doctor immediately if you experience the following:
A delay in treatment could worsen your outcome.
What Causes a Retinal Tear?
The retina processes light through light-sensitive cells called photoreceptor cells.
These cells detect light stimuli, which are interpreted as images.
The photoreceptor cells pass the information on to the optic nerve, which sends visual information to the brain.
The brain then sorts through the information and develops the pictures.
There is still a lot to learn about the role of the gel.
This gel also helps the retina hold its place against the interior wall of the eyeball.
The contraction of the vitreous gel can occur slowly over time or suddenly after experiencing trauma to the eye.
Retinal tears are diagnosed throughophthalmoscopy.This painless test uses an ophthalmoscope to magnify and illuminate the eye.
This allows for a closer inspection of the retina and other structures in the eye.
The drops take 20 to 30 minutes to work and may cause temporary light sensitivity.
Other tests may be needed, particularly if bleeding obstructs the view of the retina.
Low-risk tears with no symptoms can sometimes be monitored closely without treatment.
Some tears even resolve on their own.
In most cases, though, surgery is needed to reseal the retina.
The procedure usually prevents the retina from detaching completely.
How Long Does It Take to Heal a Torn Retina?
Healing after treatment for a torn retina can take a while.
After about 10 days, you should start to see improvement.
However, it can take up to six months for the healing process to be complete.
The retina is a light-sensitive part of the eye that transmits images to the brain.
Most retinal tears are sparked by the natural aging process and wont damage your vision.
However, it can lead to serious complications, including retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage.
A torn retina should be evaluated by an eye doctor.
With prompt treatment, retinal tears usually heal entirely.
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American Academy of Ophthalmology.Vitreous hemorrhage: diagnosis and treatment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Detached retina.
National Eye Institute.Types and causes of retinal detachment.
National Eye Institute.Vitreous detachment.
American Society of Retina Specialists.Posterior vitreous detachment.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ophthalmoscopy.
American Society of Retina Specialists.
