The eye contains a number of intricate parts, and each plays a vital role in providing good, clear vision. If damage occurs to any of the eye's components, a person may experience permanent vision loss. In some cases, people may require surgery to repair detachments inside the eye. Understanding these conditions and their symptoms may help someone recognize a condition and seek immediate treatment, which may prevent permanent damage to the eye and vision.
Retinal Detachment
The retina lines the back part of the eye and consists of light-sensitive tissue. When light enters the eye and lands on the retina, the light receptors transmit this information to the optic nerve and on to the brain, which converts the information into a visual image. If the retina detaches from the back of the eye, a person will experience sudden or progressive vision changes. Symptoms typically include a number of new floaters or black spots in the vision, and the person may also see a black "curtain" or dark section in her vision, states the National Eye Institute. These symptoms require immediate treatment by an eye surgeon in order to prevent permanent vision loss.
Intraocular Lens Displacement
Many people have cataracts, a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, and when the cataracts disrupt vision, eye surgeons will recommend surgery to remove the cloudy lens. The doctor replaces the lens with a clear implant that attaches painlessly inside the eye, just behind the iris, the colored part of the eye. If the doctor did not attach the lens properly, or if a person experiences significant trauma, the lens implant may detach. Symptoms of an intraocular lens displacement may include vision changes, double vision in the eye, pain and light sensitivity, states the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia University. In some cases, the implant may lodge on the iris, causing a tear, and the person may notice this change when looking in the mirror. To prevent inflammation or damage inside the eye, a person with any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
Surgery
In both types of dislocation, a doctor will not usually place a patient under general anesthesia. However, the doctor will often give the patient a sedative, something to help him relax. An eye surgeon may use different types of surgery to treat a retinal detachment, and the procedure she elects to perform usually depends on the extent of the detachment. In some instances a patient may require a short hospital stay, states the National Eye Institute. In most cases, for both retinal detachments and intraocular lens displacements, the patient will often return home a few hours after the surgery.
