Show rO Retinal D' D Detachment Retinal detachment Is a separation of the inner from the outer layer of the retina the sensitive light-sensitive tissue at atthe atthe atthe the back of the which eye-which can cause permanently impaired vision RETINAL detachment occurs occurs occurs oc oc- oc- oc curs most often when a tear or hold develops in the retina Fluid seeps through this tear from the vitreous the jellylike jellylike jellylike jelly- jelly like material that fills the interior of the eyeball This fluid gets between the retinal layers causing tion THE SAME effect may maybe maybe maybe be caused by extra fluid from an infection in the area or by blood vessel disturb disturb- ance The retina can also be detached detached detached de de- de- de by traction bands or by tumors in the eye A COMMON symptom of retinal detachment has has- been described as a curtain being drawn across the eyes Other symptoms such as seeing spots or light flashes may be signs of tears in inthe inthe inthe the retina or change in the vitreous which may lead to detachment The condition occurs most commonly in men in the very nearsighted and in the aged IF RETINAL detachment is diagnosed in its early carly stages patients may benefit from new techniques resulting from research research research re re- re- re search which make it possible to reattach the retina and restore restore restore re re- re- re store vision With good care reattachment reattachment reattachment reattach- reattach ment can be made in 85 percent percent percent per per- cent of cases If untreated the detachment becomes complete complete complete com com- and permanent blindness in that eye results ONE SURGICAL technique for retinal reattachment involves involves involves in in- removing ng a strip or cutting a flap from the outermost outermost outermost outer outer- most layer of the eye By pinching the cut part the eyeball eyeball eyeball eye eye- ball is made shorter pushing pushing pushing push push- ing the retinal layers to to- to gether Another method for reattaching reattaching reattaching reat- reat taching the retina is the use of heat or light to create small burns which form scar tissue that acts as a bond between the two layers AS A result of eye research lasers are now being used experimentally experimentally experimentally ex ex- ex- ex to produce narrow narrow narrow nar nar- row intensified light rays up to one thousand times the strength of sunlight This permits permits permits per per- mits more precisely located burns and less damage to surrounding tissue Still another method employs employs em em- ploys liquid silicone to replace the v vitreous fluid in the eye The transparent silicone helps hold the retinal layers together together together to to- gether and has been used to repair detachments considered hopeless RECENT studies indicate that cryosurgery extreme cold may be an alternative to heating in reattaching the I retina It is possible that in certain cases cages cases cryosurgery may permit treatment of retinal detachment on an outpatient basis ab The Tiie National l Eye Institute alone Jone I one bf bi the National National tes t of Health conducts research on r retinal disorders and other othern n I problems of vision at its I laboratories in Bethesda Maryland Maryland Maryland Mary Mary- land and supports vision research research research re re- search in institutions throughout through through- out the country and abroad |