The eye works like a camera.The front of the eye(The cornea,pupil and lens) are clear and allow light to pass through.The light also passes through the large space in the centre of the eye.The vitreous cavity,filled with clear jelly called the vitreous.The light is focused on a thin layer on the back wall of the eye called the retina.

The retina is like the film in a camera.When the focused light hits the retina the picture is taken.Messages about this picture are sent to the brain through the optic nerve.This is how we see.The retina has two parts;the peripheral retina and central macula.The peripheral retina gives us the vision to the side.The Macula allows you to see fine details as in reading.

Sometimes due to the pull from the vitreous,tear may develop in retina at some weak areas.When a retinal tear occurs it is a potentially serious problem.The retinal tear may result in retinal detachment.

Symptoms of flashes and floaters are warning signals of development of retinal tear.If the tear of the retina has occured, laser treatment or cryotherapy, or both may be used to seal the tear in order to prevent development of retinal detachment.

Why is retinal detachment considered a serious problem?

When a tear of the retina occurs, the liquid in vitreous cavity may pass through the tear and separates the retina from the back wall of the eye.This separation of retina is called a retinal detachment.Initially a patient may notice a dark shadow coming from one side.The vision is lost whenever the retinabecomes detached.Surgery is necessary to reattach the retina.Without surgery vision will almost always be completely lost.

There are three types of surgeries for retinal detachment.

A) Scleral Buckling   B) Pneumatic Retinopexy C) Vitrectomy

Is performed under local or general anesthesia.First the tear is treated with laser or cryotherapy.A silicone plastic is then sewn on the outside wall of the eye (sclera) over the site of retinal tear.This pushes the sclera towards the retinal tear and hold the retina against the sclera until scarring from cryotherapy seals the tear.This surgery is called Scleral Buckling because the sclera is buckled (pushed) in by the silicone plastic.Some times the fluid under the retina is drained out through a tiny opening in the sclera.The silicone buckle is left in the eye permanently.

In most cases, there is better than 80% chance of successfully reattaching the retina with one operation.In some cases additional surgery may be required.However, return of good vision after surgery depends on whether, and for how long, the macula was detached prior to surgery.Still if the retina is successfully reattcahed. the vision usually improves.