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Risks of Retinal Detachment

Eye Test — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:15:22 +0000

What are the risk factors of a Retinal Detachment occurring?

Retinal detachment is not dependant on age, but is known to be quite common in younger adults between the ages of 25-50 who are severely near-sighted. A retinal detachment does not occur merely from tears in the retina, which are uncommon, they can occur from injury, trauma to the eye or eye diseases in the eye.

Eye Conditions Causing Retinal Detachment

Eye conditions that are more likely to cause retinal detachment are as follows:

Cataract Surgery – The surgery removes clouded arts of the lens
Severe short sightedness (Myopia) – Those that that have a prescription of -5 to -6 have an increased chance of having retinal detachment which is further increased if they have any operation or surgeries to the eye, for example cataracts.
Lattice Degeneration – This condition is can occur in about 7% of the general population, in which the retina is sometimes stretched thin in the back of the eye and starts to perforate near the edges of the retina. As the name suggest the perforation resembles a lattice pattern. This is common in patients with high myopia as the eyes in these patients are slightly larger than normal eyes. The peripheral vision can be affected in this case as the outside edges of the retina is affected.
Uveitis – This is a condition where the inner part of the eye has chronic inflammation caused by a virus, fungus or parasite.
Eye Drops – Certain eye drops used over a period of years can affect the retina and cause retinal detachment.
Trauma – blunt or sharp trauma to the eye can cause retinal detachment.
Existing Retinal Detachment – In some cases where there has been a retinal detachment in one eye, the other eye can develop the same condition.
Inherited Condition – A history of retinal detachment, which is non-traumatic suggest that the condition may be within the family.
Diabetes – The abnormal blood vessels and scar tissue on the retina can cause retinal detachment if the scar tissue breaks away to expose a hole in the retina.

How Does Diabetes Affect Eyes?

Eye Test — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:13:53 +0000

Link Between Diabetes and Vision Loss

Just because you have diabetes does not necessarily mean that you eye sight will be affected, however if your diabetes is not under serious control then there is an increased risk of complication with vision and loss of sight.

When a person has diabetes it is not natural to assume that there will be a problem with the eyes, that is why most people neglect their eyes. Most vision loss resulting from diabetes can be prevented, if diagnosed at an early stage. The only way that they can be diagnosed early is by having regular eye exams and letting your optometrist know that you have diabetes.

The Optometrist will look for abnormal blood vessels in retina which lines the back of the eye. If they are bulging or leaking blood or fluid then they will refer you to an Opthalmologist, who will investigate the matter further.

Retinal Detachment

Eye Test — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:06:22 +0000

What is a Retinal Detachment?

In this condition the retinal tissue has started or has become detached from its support tissue that holds it place to the back of the eye. This happens when a hole, or tear has developed from either an injury or some ongoing eye problems.

It often only happens in one eye, however both eyes should be checked regularly to prevent any further problems especially in cases where a person has diabetes, where sometimes the risks are greater from retinal detachment.

Diabetic & Eye Sight – Treatment

Eye Test — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:56:36 +0000

It can not be stressed enough how having an eye test can save your vision. Your vision may be good however the back of the eye may be changing without affecting your vision straight away. The only way any problems can be detected early on is by having regular eye exams, normally every year. The optometrist will check the back of your eye with an opthalmascope, if any problems are detected you will be referred to an Opthalmologist, usually at the Eye Hospital.

Do not wait until vision has deteriorated until you have a eye exam, however please note that just because your vision has deteriorated does not mean you have retinopathy.

Laser Treatment

Once a problem has been detected laser treatment will be offered to prevent any further damage to the blood vessels. Laser treatment does not cure the vision loss already suffered but prevents any further vision loss.

Diabetes & Eye Sight

Eye Test — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:21:43 +0000

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is the condition where your body is unable to properly cope with sugar and other carbohydrates because it is producing little or no insulin to deal with the sugars consumed in foods.

There are two types of diabetes, both may affect your eye sight and regular eye examination is important to avoid complications.

Type 1

This is where the body is creating very little or no insulin, it is sometimes reffered to as “insulin dependent” diabetes as insulin injections are taken at certain times in the day in order for the body to cope with the foods eaten.

Type 2

Diabetes in this form is controlled by change of diet and tablets, as the body is producing some insulin just not enough required to function effectively.

Both types can develop at childhood, but is more common in adulthood after the age of around 30-40 respectively.