Who is likely to develop a retinal detachment?
Retinal detachments affect about one in 10,000 people in the United States. It typically happens to patients who are nearsighted or have a family history of retinal detachments. Retinal detachments can also happen after cataract surgery. Sometimes a hard blow to the eye can cause retinal detachment. In some cases, it is a hereditary condition and occurs in children and infants. If the detachment is not diagnosed and treated it can lead to visual impairment and even complete loss of vision. What are the causes and symptoms of a retinal detachment? Tears or holes in the retina cause most retinal detachments. In normal aging, there is often shrinkage of the vitreous, which is the gel-like substance that is in the center part of the eye. The jelly is attached to the retina in several places around the back wall of the eye. As the jelly shrinks, it can pull a piece of the retina away with it, causing a hole or tear in the retina. Once this hole or tear occurs, fluid from the vitreous jelly
