[4] Retinal Detachment Flashcards
What is retinal detachment?
A typically progressive condition in which the neuroretina separates (detaches) from the retinal pigment epithelium
What are the types of retinal detachment?
- Rhegmatogenous
- Non-rhegmatogenous
What is the most common type of retinal detachment?
Rhegmatogenous
What are rhegmatogenous retinal detachments preceded by?
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)
How can posterior vitreous detachment lead to retinal detachment?
The PVD causes traction on the retina, and potentially a retinal tear. The liquified vitreous can then seep under the retina, causing it to detach
Are rhegmatogenous retinal detachments localised?
They may initially be localised, but without treatment may progress
What might the progression of rhegmatogeous retinal detachments lead to?
Irreversible vision loss
What is a less common type of retinal detachment?
Non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
What are the subtypes of non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
- Exudative (serous or secondary)
- Tractionsl
What is exudative non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
When primary damage of the underlying RPE (retinal pigment epithelium) allows subretinal fluid to leak into the subretinal space pushing the retina off
What is tractional non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
When fibres of the vitreous contract and pull the sensory retina away
What is the underlying cause of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
Preceded by PVD which is caused by age related degenerative liquefaction and shrinkage of the vitreous
What is the underlying cause of exudative retinal detachment?
Accumulation of serous and/or haemorrhagic fluid in the subretinal space
What can cause accumulation of blood or serous fluid in the subretinal space?
- Hydrostatic factors e.g. severe acute hypertension
- Inflammation e.g. sarcoid uveitis
- Neoplastic effusions
What can cause tractional retinal detachment?
Mechanical forces on the retina usually due to fibrotic tissue
What can cause fibrotic tissue in the vitreous?
- Previous haemorrhage
- Injury
- Surgery
- Infection
- Inflammation
What do risk factors for retinal detachment depend upon?
Type and site of detachment
What are some general risk factors for retinal detachment?
- Myopia (increases risk of PVD)
- Family history
- Previous history of retinal detachment
What are some risk factors of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment?
- Age
- Aphakia
- Previous retinal break
- Marfan’s syndrome
- Lattice degeneration
What is a lattice degeneration?
The peripheral retina becomes thinned or atrophic in a lattice pattern making it prone to damage