

#Hole in retina surgery professional
Macular holes are frequently identified by an eye care professional using a slit lamp biomicroscope. Less common causes of a macular hole include blunt trauma to the eye, contraction of a pre-existing epiretinal membrane (macular pucker), or extreme near-sightedness (high myopia). Due to age-related changes in the vitreous gel, contraction of the overlying the macula may pull open a defect in the macula creating a macular hole. The vitreous has a strong natural adhesion to the macula. The majority of macular holes are caused by a spontaneous separation of the vitreous overlying the center of the retina (macula). The vitreous is the gel that fills the eye. The risk for developing a macular hole in the fellow eye is 10% - 15%. The incidence of macular hole is 3.3 cases per 1,000 in the population. Since the macula is responsible for reading vision, patients who develop a macular hole complain of distorted vision and loss of central vision in the affected eye. Schedule an eye examwith an eye doctor near you so that you can protect your vision.A macular hole is a defect in the central retina (macula). Going for regular eye exams can help lower your risk of another tear or hole from occurring. However, you may develop a retinal hole or tear in another part of your eye at a later point. Treatment for retinal tears and holes are usually successful. Following the procedure your vision may be blurred for a few hours. This procedure uses highly focused beams of light to seal the tissue around the tear or hole. This procedure is similar to cryopexy except that heat from an electric current is applied through a needle to seal a tear or hole. CryopexyĪ cryopexy uses an instrument called a cryoprobe to freeze the tissue around the hole and secure it to the inside of the eyeball. How are retinal holes and tears treated?Īn eye doctor will seal the retinal hole or tear to prevent them from enlarging, and to prevent the retina from detaching completely. The best way to prevent retinal problems is to visit your eye doctor for regular exams or as soon as you notice signs of holes or tears. There is no way to avoid retinal holes and tears other than protecting your eyes from harm, such as avoiding high contact sports like football and ice hockey. How can retinal holes and tears be prevented? If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you immediately. A dark shadow in your peripheral (side) vision.At other times, the symptoms are quite obvious, which can include Sometimes retinal tears and holes have no symptoms. There are some instances where retinal holes should be treated the same as retinal tears. Retinal holes are typically smaller and have a lower risk of causing a retinal detachment. While retinal holes develop due to progressive thinning of the retina, retinal tears develop when the vitreous pulls on the retina. The terms retinal hole and tears may often be used interchangeably, but there is a clinical difference. Is there a difference between retinal holes and retinal tears? While retinal tears may occur as a result of eye trauma, most retinal tears occur spontaneously due to a PVD.Īnother cause of a retinal hole or tear is thinning or weakening of the tissues of the retina over time. As the vitreous separates from the retina, it pulls, causing the retina to tear. However, some people inherently have a more “sticky” vitreous. This gel is attached to the retina at birth, but it separates from the retina as we become older, resulting in a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). The vitreous is a clear gel-like material that fills the space between the retina and the back of the eye. Retinal holes and tears are urgent retinal diseases that can lead to total blindness. However, retinal holes and tears may cause problems if fluid seeps behind the retina.įluid builds up behind the retina, can cause the retina to separate from the wall of the eye, damaging part of the retina. Usually, holes and tears don’t immediately result in serious vision problems. Retinal holes and tears are types of retinal conditions and are diagnosed as small breaks in the retina. When your eye doctor shines a bright light in your eyes, they’re conducting an examination of your eye health, including retinal diseases. Holes and tears that form in the retina significantly increase the risk of many retinal diseases, in particularly retinal detachment, which can cause sudden and total loss of vision. The retina is the thin, inside lining of the eye that is light-sensitive and generates vision. Retinal holes and tears affect over 10% of the population.
