Retinal detachment is a serious condition that can lead to severe, permanent vision loss. The retina is area of the eye that lines the back of the eye. The retina contains sensors that transmit vision signals to the brain. Damage to a small area may cause only slight vision loss, but detachment in the area of the macula, the central part of vision in the retina, can cause severe vision loss. One in 10,000 people has a detached retina every year, the Health Scout Network reports, but people with some medical conditions have a much higher risk.
Myopia
Myopia means nearsightedness. People who are myopic have an increased risk of retinal detachment. Myopia causes retinal detachment because people with myopia have longer eyeballs and thinner retinas than people with normal vision. As many as 67 percent of people with retinal detachment have myopia, the Journal of the American Medical Association states. People with myopia should be aware of the possibility of developing a retinal detachment and report any loss of vision immediately.
Posterior Vitreous Detachment
The vitreous is the gel that fills the center of the eye. The vitreous is attached to the retina in several places. As people age, the vitreous shrinks and pulls away from the retina, a condition known as posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. Most of the time, the retina separates from the vitreous as it shrinks, but if it remains attached, the retina can be pulled away from the wall of the eye in certain areas. As the vitreous pulls on the retina, you may see flashes of light when you have your eyes closed or if you're in a dark room. Floaters, small moving specks that appear in your line of vision, are also a symptoms of PVD. People with PVD should have their vision checked regularly.
Diabetes
Diabetes, high blood sugar, damages the small blood vessels in the eye. Often, abnormal new blood vessels form under the retina that can detach the retina from the back of the eye. Most diabetics with retinal detachment have advanced diabetic eye disease known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Keeping blood sugars under control decreases the chance of retinal detachment in diabetics.
Trauma
Trauma to the eye can cause the retina to detach. A hard blow to the eye or a penetrating wound can detach the retina from the eye. Retinal detachment can occur immediately after trauma to the eye, or may not occur until many years later.
