Retinal Tear

Retinal Tear services offered in Fairfax, VA

When left untreated, retinal tears can lead to retinal detachment and severe vision problems. At Fairfax Cataract and Retina in Fairfax, Virginia, board-certified ophthalmologist Mehrine Shaikh, MD, diagnoses and treats retinal tears to avoid complications. Schedule an eye evaluation by calling the Fairfax Cataract and Retina office or requesting an appointment online today.

What is a retinal tear?

As the term implies, a retinal tear is a break in the retina that’s less severe than retinal detachment. The retina is a thin, light-sensitive tissue layer in the back part of your eye. Retinal tears occur when the gel-like vitreous part of your eye pulls on the retina, causing a split. When detected early, Dr. Shaikh at Fairfax Cataract and Retina can repair a tear before it progresses to detachment.

What are the symptoms of a retinal tear?

A retinal tear can cause the following symptoms:

Seeing black spots in your vision
Floaters
Darkening vision
Light flashes
Blurry vision

It’s also possible to have no symptoms after a retinal tear, but Dr. Shaikh can still detect it during a routine eye examination.

What are the risk factors for a retinal tear?

Retinal tear risk factors include:

Eye surgery
Eye injuries
Posterior vitreous detachment
Being nearsighted
Aging
Thinning retina
Family history of retinal tears or detachment

Retinal detachments caused by a tear can lead to vision loss when left untreated.

How are retinal tears diagnosed?

Dr. Shaikh diagnoses retinal tears by completing a comprehensive eye exam. She dilates your pupils with drops and uses a special lens to view the retina in the back of your eye. You may also complete vision screening, eye imaging, or other diagnostic tests to detect or rule out additional eye concerns.

How are retinal tears treated?

Treating a retinal tear may involve:

Laser surgery

Laser treatment, or photocoagulation, is a treatment that uses laser energy to repair retinal tears, burning treated tissues and allowing scarring to seal the tear. This treatment takes about 15 minutes.

Cryopexy

Cryopexy, or freeze treatment, is another option for retinal tears. Dr. Shaikh uses cold to seal the tear by creating scar tissue. This procedure lasts about 30 minutes.

What should I expect after treatment?

After a retinal tear procedure, you can expect to wear an eye patch. It might take several weeks for complete healing. Protect your eyes, attend routine eye exams, seek prompt treatment for eye injuries, manage any chronic diseases, and adopt healthy eating and exercise habits to reduce the risk of further tearing and other eye problems.

Schedule a retinal tear evaluation at Fairfax Cataract and Retina by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.

Please see attached link

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-torn-retina