Everyone knows that a head injury can have serious repercussions, but few people consider how it can impact their eye health.
Blunt force trauma to the head or eye is a major cause of retinal detachment, a sight-threatening eye emergency that should be treated right away to prevent vision loss. This type of eye injury accounts for an estimated 10-20% of all retinal detachments.
At FW Specialty Surgicare, we treat a wide range of eye emergencies, including retinal detachments. Call us if your eyes need immediate attention.
What is a Retinal Detachment?
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the inner back portion of the eye. When a section of the retina pulls away from the underlying supportive tissue, it becomes deprived of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. The loss of oxygen causes the retinal nerve cells to atrophy, making it impossible for the retina to send visual signals to the brain.
If the detached retina isn’t reattached in time, that piece of tissue can be permanently damaged, resulting in irreversible vision loss.
What Does a Retinal Detachment Feel Like?
Retinal detachments are painless, but usually cause visual symptoms including:
- An increase in eye flashes and floaters
- Blurred vision
- Visual field loss
- Seeing a dark “curtain” or shadow in your vision
In small retinal detachments or tears, you may not notice any changes at all in your vision. But as the detachment worsens, symptoms will become more noticeable.
What Can Cause a Retinal Detachment?
Several factors can cause or contribute to a retinal detachment, but the 2 most common are aging and eye trauma.
As a person ages, the vitreous fluid – the gel-like substance that fills the eye – begins to shrink. Sometimes, the shrinking vitreous can tug on the retinal tissue and detach it from the back of the eye.
Up to 20% of retinal detachments are caused by blunt force trauma. Examples include being hit in the eye with a fist or ball, or hitting your head or eye in a car accident. Sometimes, a small retinal tear or detachment can occur, despite not having any obvious symptoms.
That’s why it’s so important to have your eyes promptly evaluated by an eye doctor after sustaining a blow to the head or eye.
How is a Retinal Detachment Diagnosed?
Your eye doctor will be able to diagnose a retinal detachment through a dilated eye exam.
In some cases, your ophthalmologist may order other tests to confirm your diagnosis, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and an eye ultrasound.
How is a Retinal Detachment Treated?
There are a few ways to treat retinal detachments surgically.
One option is to inject a gas bubble into your eye to push the separated tissue back into place. This surgery, called pneumatic retinopexy, is most often used to treat early stages of retinal detachment.
Alternatively, your eye doctor may recommend a procedure called scleral buckling, where a band is placed around your eye to push the walls of the eye closer together.
A vitrectomy can also treat a retinal detachment by removing and replacing the vitreous fluid that fills the eye.
Your eye surgeon will determine which option is best for your condition.
Retinal Detachment Treatment in 2001 Cooper Street Fort Worth, Texas 76104
If you or a loved one has sustained a head or eye injury, FW Specialty Surgicare can help.
By having your eyes examined as soon as possible after a head or eye injury, you’ll increase your chances of keeping your eyes healthy and your vision clear.
To schedule your appointment, call FW Specialty Surgicare in 2001 Cooper Street Fort Worth, Texas 76104 today!