The retina serves as the sensory membrane that lines the inner surface of the back of the eyeball. It receives light focused by the lens, converts neural signals, and sends these signals to the brain for visual recognition. When a tear compromises this tissue, the visual pathway faces interruption, or the retina may detach completely from the choroid. Understanding the implications of a retinal tear helps patients recognize the severity of the condition.
What Is a Retinal Tear?
A retinal tear is a physical rupture in the thin layer of tissue located at the back of the eye. This usually occurs when the vitreous humor, the clear gel that fills the eye, pulls away from the retina with excessive force. The vitreous has a gel-like consistency at birth, but it deteriorates as the body ages.
As the vitreous shrinks, it separates from the retina, and this process is called posterior vitreous separation. While this separation is often harmless, strong adhesion points can cause the retina to tear during detachment. Once a tear exists, fluid can seep underneath the retina, leading to further separation.
What Causes It?
Aging is the predominant factor in the development of retinal tears, specifically due to changes in the vitreous humor. As the gel consistency changes to liquid, the structure collapses, pulling on the retina. Most individuals experience vitreous changes over time, but not everyone will develop a tear.
Myopia increases the risk, as nearsighted eyes are elongated, stretching the retina thin. This thinning makes the tissue more fragile, and it succumbs more easily to the tractional forces of the vitreous. Trauma to the head or eye can cause mechanical damage that results in an immediate tear. Previous eye surgeries, such as cataract removal, also increase a patient’s risk.
What Are the Symptoms?
Patients may report the sudden onset of new floaters in their field of vision. These appear as small dark spots, squiggly lines, or cobwebs that move as the eye moves. The floaters represent shadows cast on the retina by debris or blood cells that have entered the vitreous gel.
Photopsia, or flashing lights, frequently occurs alongside floaters, and it manifests as brief streaks of light in peripheral vision. This symptom indicates that the vitreous is tugging on the retina, stimulating the photoreceptor cells. Clinical evaluation is necessary to confirm the diagnosis, as symptoms alone cannot determine the extent of the damage.
What Are the Treatment Options?
Retina specialists use laser therapy to treat retinal tears before they progress to detachment. The doctor directs a high-energy laser beam into the eye through the pupil, and this beam creates small burns around the tear. These burns heal into scar tissue, sealing the retina to the underlying tissue layers.
What Is the Urgency?
A retinal tear creates a direct pathway for fluid to accumulate beneath the retina. This accumulation peels the retina away from the back of the eye, resulting in a clinical retinal detachment. Early treatment of a tear is a preventative measure, whereas treating a detachment requires major surgery. Immediate evaluation minimizes the risk of vision loss.
Visit a Retina Specialist Today
Retinal tears require professional diagnosis through an eye examination to determine the extent of the damage. Specialists can visualize the periphery of the retina, and they will recommend the appropriate course of action. Contact a retina specialist immediately to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
