Retina
ret-n-uh: A light sensitive part inside the inner layer of the eye. Some of the cells of the retina receive light and transform it into image-forming signals which are transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain.
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from the actual wall of the eye. The detached area will not work properly and this affects the quality of the picture produced by the brain.
Symptoms such as:
- Flashing Lights (short flickers of light)
- The feeling of a cobweb in the eye.
- A curtain covering some of the visual field – this may cause a shadow or a total black out of part of your vision.
All need urgent examination to rule out the presence of a retinal detachment.
Retinal detachment affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people. It is rarely seen in young adults but more so in short sighted or middle aged people.
There are several different treatment methods for retinal detachment depending on the cause and the state of the retina.