Retinal Tear and Detachment

Question 1

what is the difference between a break, hole and tear in the retina

Answer 1

break = full-thickness defect in sensory retina
tear = caused by dynamic vitreoretinal traction
hole = caused by chronic retinal atrophy

Question 2

what is a retinal detachment(RD)

Answer 2

separation of sensory retina from retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) by subretinal fluid

Question 3

what is the difference between a rhegmatogenous and non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Answer 3

rhegmatogenous = caused by retinal break
non-rhegmatogenous = tractional or exudative cause

Question 4

what types of retinal break require treatment

Answer 4

symptomatic horseshoe tears and retinal dialysis

Question 5

what are the 2 components involved in the pathogenesis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Answer 5

acute posterior vitreous detachment(PVD), predisposing peripheral retinal degeneration

Question 6

what signs are seen with a fresh rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Answer 6

convex, deep mobile elevation extending to ora serrata, slightly opaque with dark blood vessels, loss of choroidal pattern, retinal breaks

Question 7

what are the different ways in which exudative retinal detachment can occur

Answer 7

choroidal tumours, intraocular inflammation, systemic(eg hypoproteinaemia), iatrogenic(eg RD surgery), miscellaneous(eg choroidal neovascularisation)

Question 8

what signs are associated with exudative retinal detachment

Answer 8

convex, smooth elevation, may be very mobile and deep with shifting fluid, subretinal pigment(leopard spots) after flattening