What are Retinal Tears & Retinal Detachment?
A retinal tear is when a tear or multiple tears form in the retina. This can lead to a higher risk of retinal detachment – when the retina pulls away from the tissue that surrounds it. The retina consists of thin, light-sensitive tissue that helps in generating vision.
Often, a patient’s retina tears before it detaches from the tissues around it. When the retina is torn, the fluid found in the eye leaks underneath which causes the retina to separate and detach. Retinal detachment could also occur on its own without retinal tears being a factor.
The symptoms surrounding retinal tears and retinal detachment are similar. Nevertheless, both eye conditions should be treated right away to avoid severe outcomes. As retinal tears lead to retinal detachment, permanent loss of vision is an outcome of the two eye conditions if left untreated