What Is A Torn Retina?

65-year-old Mrs Banerjee suddenly started seeing flashing lights and her peripheral vision was getting blurry. She could sense that something was not right.

She never experienced such sudden changes in her vision. Without wasting any time, she rushed to an eye hospital in Siliguri. The eye doctor she consulted was glad that she didn’t wait too long and came immediately for consultation. He found that she had a torn Retina.

 

Torn Retina It is a serious condition that can lead to Retinal detachment. If not treated immediately, it can even lead to impaired vision. A Retina can tear just like a piece of cloth. To prevent the condition from progressing to retinal detachment, the eye surgeon at the eye hospital performed minor surgery with a laser and the problem was effectively fixed. But unlike Mrs Banerjee many people often ignore sudden vision changes. Knowing about a torn retina and its symptoms can help you seek treatment at the earliest and avoid further vision problems.

 

How does the Retina tear?

As you get older, the Vitreous, a gel-like substance in the eyes starts to shrink. In healthy eyes, the Vitreous moves freely without any problems. Sometimes, this substance sticks to the Retina. It may pull the retina hard enough to cause a tear or a hole. As the Retina is very thin, a tear can cause serious damage. When the retina tears, the fluid present in the eye leaks through the hole – as a result you see  see flashes or floaters. If this torn portion is not fixed, it can cause the whole retina to detach or peel off. Sometimes a torn retina is also linked to bleeding in the eye which can cause loss of vision if the blood fills the eye. This can lead to permanent loss of vision and, thus, any sudden appearance of floaters or flashes should not be ignored.

 

Who is at risk?

You’re more likely to have a torn retina as you get older or if you have the following things:

  • Severe nearsightedness
  • An eye injury or complicated cataract or glaucoma surgery
  • A family history of retinal detachment
  • Posterior vitreous detachment
  • Having a retinal tear or detachment in the other eye
  • Diabetic patients are more susceptible to the condition than those who don’t have diabetes.

 

Early Signs

  • Flashing lights like you are seeing stars in the day
  • New floaters
  • Poor peripheral vision
  • You may feel that a curtain is there in your field of vision

 

 

Treatment Options

  • Laser surgery is one of the common methods of treating the retinal tear : An eye surgeon will use a laser to seal the tear. It is an outpatient procedure done in less than 15 minutes. Using a laser, he will make burns to form scars. These scars seal the retina back to its place.
  • Cryopexy: In this procedure, extreme cold therapy is used to seal the retina. This procedure prevents the fluid from entering the eye and detaching the retina. The procedure won’t take more than 30 minutes.

See a doctor

If you are seeing new floaters, flashing lights, or experiencing sudden changes in your vision, rush to an eye hospital at the earliest. By getting your eyes regularly checked, you can get the issue identified in the early stages. Early treatment can prevent a torn Retina to further cause any problems. Get your eyes checked once a year, or more often if you have conditions like diabetes or severe nearsightedness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Properly Clean Your Eyes?

Did you know the function of eyebrows, eyelashes, tears, and eyelids? They are all part of the safety system which protect our eyes from interacting with foreign objects. Whenever dust enters the eyes, they automatically produce tears to clean it up. However, there are times when you may accidentally squirt ketchup, or spray perfume inside your eyes, then you need to ensure that you have cleaned your eyes properly.

Disha Eye Hospitals
Few instructions for proper eye clean-up: 

1. If something is stuck in your eyes, it’s likely that your eyes will tear up. Close your eyes and gently wipe the tears. Do not rub your eyes with tissue, just dab gently.

2. To see what is stuck in your eyes, just pull your lower eyelid down and slowly look around. Do not use any object like an ear bud to see what’s stuck. It is better to have a family member or a friend to check if anything has settled there.

3. Before cleaning your eyes, make sure your hands are clean. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, then wipe using a clean towel.

4. Bend over the sink and keep the affected eye under the running water. Make sure the flow of the water is not too fast. Try to keep your eyes open for extended periods so that if any foreign object is stuck, it will flow out. If the pressure of the running water is too high, use a bathroom mug or a jar. Keep pouring water from it so that any debris that is stuck comes out. Make sure the water you are using is clean. You can also fill a pot with clean water and dip your face while continuously blinking.

What not to do?

When something gets stuck in your eyes, your first reaction is to rub your eyes and remove the object. You should completely avoid doing that as it will make matters worse by pushing around whatever is stuck. The foreign object may scratch the cornea leading to corneal abrasion. Though corneal abrasion is treatable, it can be quite painful.

When to see an eye doctor?

Even after rinsing your eyes several times, if you feel something is still stuck, it’s best to seek medical care. In case you experience symptoms such as pain, redness, or hazy vision, despite flushing out the foreign object, then you must go to an eye hospital immediately. If a chemical like bleaching liquid, surface cleaner or dish washing liquid has gotten into your eyes, then whether you are experiencing pain or not, you should see an eye doctor immediately. It is advisable that you take the container of the chemical to the eye doctor, so that they can find out exactly which kind of chemical it is.

Looking for an eye hospital in West Bengal?

Disha Eye Hospitals provide the best eye treatment in the state at an affordable cost. We have eye hospitals in Siliguri, Kolkata, Barasat, Barrackpore and other parts of the state. Patient care is our first and foremost priority. Amid the current COVID-19 crisis, we have begun online consultation so that your eyes are taken care of even when you cannot step out of your home.