Retinal Tear Diagnosis and Treatment

A retinal tear occurs when the vitreous gel inside the eye pulls on the retina with enough force to create a small tear. This most commonly occurs as part of the natural aging process, but it can also result from eye injury, severe nearsightedness, or previous eye surgery.

While a retinal tear does not usually cause pain, patients may experience the following symptoms:

• Flashes or floaters in the field of vision
• Reduction of vision
• Shadows or a curtain in the peripheral vision

Floaters or blocked areas of vision (curtains) may result from a retinal tear because as the vitreous pulls away from the retina, debris loosens and floats across the field of vision. Stress on the retina as the vitreous pulls away may also result in the production of images, such as flashing lights.
Floaters, which may appear as dots, circles, lines, clouds or webs, are common, experienced by about 70 percent of the population, and do not necessarily indicate a retinal tear. If floaters or flashes appear suddenly, however, there is cause for concern. This situation requires immediately medical consultation.

The sooner a retinal tear is diagnosed and treated, the less likely it will develop into a retinal detachment. Diagnosis of a retinal tear is made after a thorough medical eye examination and the performance of the following diagnostic tests:

• Dilated eye examination
• Ultrasound of the eye
• Fundus photography of the retina
• Visual acuity test
• Slit-lamp examination
• Ophthalmoscopy

Early detection, and prompt treatment, of a retinal tear can often prevent the retina from detaching, preventing permanent damage to the patient’s vision.

A retinal tear is treated with either a laser or cryotherapy procedure, or both, depending on the size and location of the tear. Either method of treatment is used to seal the retina to the wall of the eye. This prevents fluid from traveling through the retinal tear to potentially cause a detachment.
Repairing a tear in one part of the retina does not prevent a tear from developing in another area of the retina. Patients who have had a retinal tear should be especially careful about having their condition monitored. Everyone should have a regular eye examination to detect possible retinal tears at the earliest possible stage.

No. Most retinal tears require treatment to prevent progression to retinal detachment and reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.