Retinal detachment

The separation of the neurosensory (inner) retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium and choroid, disrupting photoreceptor support and causing acute or progressive visual loss.

Causes

• Rhegmatogenous causes (retinal tear or break)

  • Myopia

  • Age-related vitreous liquefaction and shrinkage (posterior vitreous detachment)

  • Previous cataract surgery

  • Eye trauma

  • Retinal degeneration (lattice degeneration)

• Tractional causes

  • Diabetic retinopathy with proliferative fibrovascular membranes

  • Retinal vascular disease causing scar formation

  • Other proliferative vitreoretinal disorders

• Exudative causes

  • Diabetic retinopathy

  • Leaking retinal blood vessels

  • Eye tumors

  • Uveitis

  • Inflammatory chorioretinal diseases

• Other causes

  • Retinal vascular occlusion

  • Age-related macular degeneration

  • Inherited retinal disorders