#36. Retinal detachment - congenital, primary, secondary.

Question 1

What is RETINAL DETACHMENT?

Answer 1

Condition where there’s SEPARATION of the 2 RETINAL LAYERS
a. Retina Proper
b. Pigmentary Epithelium

BY the Sub-Retinal Fluid

Question 2

What are the CONGENITAL CAUSES of RETINAL DETACHMENT?

Answer 2

• Myopic Degeneration
• Retinoschisis
• Vitreous Degeneration
• Peripheral Retinal Degeneration

Question 3

What is PRIMARY RETINAL DETACHMENT?

Answer 3

• MOST COMMON
• DUE to Holes / Breaks in the Retina i.e. Retina Tears, allowing fluid from the MIDDLE of the eye to pass thru the tear and SETTLE UNDER the Retina
• As fluid BUILDS UP, it PUSHES the RETINA away from the LAYER BENEATH it
• FREQUENT CAUSE if POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT, where Vitreous Gel SEPARATES from the Retina, but sometimes the Gel can PULL SO HARD that it TEARS the Retina

Question 4

What are 2 TYPES of SECONDARY Retinal Detachment?

Answer 4

1) TRACTION Retinal Detachment

• Scar Tissue GROWTH on SURFACE of Retina
• DUE to PROLIFERATIVE RETINOPATHY, from DIABETES

2) EXUDATIVE Retinal Detachment

• Blood / Fluid from CHOROID flows into space UNDER Retina, SEPARATING the Retina FROM Layer UNDERNEATH it

Question 5

What are the SYMPTOMS of RETINAL DETACHMENT?

Answer 5

• Sudden Onset
• Flashes of Light
• Floaters
• Loss of Central Vision

Question 6

What is the DIAGNOSIS for RETINAL DETACHMENT?

Answer 6

• DECREASED Intraocular Pressure

OPHTHALMOSCOPY to see DETACHED Retina is GREY with SURFACE BVs

Question 7

What is the TREATMENT for RETINAL DETACHMENT?

Answer 7

**SURGERY

• VITRECTOMY = RELIEF of Vitreoretinal Traction
• CLOSURE of Retinal BREAK
• DRAINING Subretinal FLUID
• ADHESION of DETACHED Retina TO Retinal PIGMENT EPITHELIUM