There are many reasons why your retina (the tissue at the back of your eye) can sustain damage, causing a tear or a partial or complete detachment.

• Eye inflammation
• Fluid collection under the retina due to injury
• The contraction of vitreous gel inside the eye that pulls on the retina
• Retinal scar tissue

Aging, genetics and extreme nearsightedness (myopia) are factors that can increase your risk of retinal detachment.

A Difference You Can See

Dr. Pendleton has treated thousands patients with retinal disorders.

Symptoms of a Detached Retina

You may overlook the subtle symptoms of a retinal tear; that’s why regular eye exams are so vitally important to your eye health. However, in the case of a full retinal detachment, you may experience an onset of these symptoms:

• Floaters Cobweb-like specks or dark shadows/spots moving in your vision
• Flashes of light
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Wavy vision
• Loss of vision

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact our office right away: retinal detachment is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention to protect your vision.

Detached & Torn Retina Treatment

The right treatment will depend on the size, severity, and location of the detachment or tear. Dr. Robert Pendleton may recommend:

• Vitretomy: removal of the vitreous gel to reduce contraction; a gas or oil bubble may be inserted into the eye after vitrectomy to help restore the retina into position
• Pneumatic retinopexy: rather than removing the vitreous gel, a gas bubble is injected into the gel to reattach the retina. This technique is only appropriate for detachments of the upper portions of the retina
• Scleral buckle: a flexible silicone band is positioned on the outside of the eye to gently push the white of the eye (sclera) inward.
• Retina laser surgery: small detachments can be treated with laser burns made around the tear to reseal it and prevent further detachment
• Cryopexy: application of intense cold to the tear that produces a scar to reattach the retina

To learn more about retinal tear and detachment treatment in Carlsbad, California, contact us today.