During a game of rough and tumble with my three-year-old child last week, I sustained a minor injury to my left eye, which resulted in detachment of my retina. Can you explain where the retina is and what it does?
The retina is a transparent, light-sensitive membrane on the inner surface of the back of the eye. The cornea and lens focus light onto the retina, which contains high-density light-sensitive and colour-sensitive photoreceptors and are responsible for vision.
The retina is supplied by an underlayer of blood vessels. When the retina detaches, it separates from part of this blood supply, preventing it from functioning properly. Detachment can begin in a small area, sometimes as a result of a small tear. If this area is not reattached, it may lead to permanent damage to sight. Tears can occur for a number of reasons, including recent cataract surgery or injury to the eye. It is more likely to occur in those that are myopic (nearsighted).
As I had no pain in my eye, just a few flashes of bright lights, I had expected my sight to return to normal following the injury. But it was as if something was hanging over my eye, cutting off some of my vision.
Your experience is fairly typical of what can occur following retinal detachment. Usually painless, the sufferer may see minute, floating objects (floaters) or flashes of bright lights that last a couple of seconds. Typically, peripheral vision is lost first. As detachment progresses, it leads to loss of vision that is often described as a veil falling across the line of sight.
Although I was referred to an ophthalmic consultant and had laser treatment, I wonder if I had left well enough alone, would my sight have returned spontaneously?
It is imperative that any sudden loss of vision be assessed by an ophthalmologist. Treatment will depend on the cause of the detachment. It may be possible to repair the retina using laser surgery or cyrotherapy (freezing). It is essential that the retina be treated between two and seven days after detachment to give it the best chance for sight to return. If detached for any longer, or if bleeding or scarring has occurred, the likelihood of the return of normal sight is diminished.