Retinal Detachment

Flashes and floaters may be the first sign of a serious eye condition known as a retinal detachment. At Retina Consultants of Austin, with offices in Austin, Lakeway, Marble Falls, and Round Rock, Texas, the retinal specialists understand the complexities of treating retinal detachment and offer same-day appointments to provide a prompt evaluation and immediate care. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is a retinal detachment?

If a retinal tear progresses into a retinal detachment, seeking prompt medical attention is viral to preserve your vision. Once your retinal cells detch, they can no longer receive the oxygen-rich blood they need to thrive.

The providers at Retina Consultants of Austin offer same-day care for retinal detachment, and can help restore your eye health. 

What are the symptoms of a retinal detachment?

Retinal detachment may lead to serious eye complications, so it’s important that you reach out to the providers at Retina Consultants of Austin if you experience any changes in your vision. 

Your provider performs a comprehensive eye exam to understand the severity of your condition. Even though retinal detachment doesn’t cause pain, you’ll experience a decline in visual acuity. 

Common symptoms of retinal detachment include:

• Blurred vision
• Straight lines appearing curved
• Worsening side vision (peripheral)
• Shadows that block field of vision
• Sudden increase in floaters 
• Photopsia

While these symptoms tend to occur gradually, they can also develop suddenly. If you experience rapidly declining vision, you should seek emergency care.

What causes a retinal detachment?

Knowing the warning signs and treating retinal detachment before it develops into a serious eye problem is one of the best ways to preserve your vision. 

If you have a retinal tear, it can be treated with laser therapy, cryosurgery, or vitrectomy before it progresses to a retinal detachment. 

Some of the risk factors to look out for include:

• Retinal tear 
• Family history of retinal detachment
• Previous eye surgery or traumatic injury complications
• Myopia (nearsightedness)

Certain eye diseases can also cause retinal detachment, such as diabetic retinopathy. 

How is retinal detachment diagnosed?

Retinal detachment is usually diagnosed through a dilated eye exam. However, your Retina Consultants of Austin provider may use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate your eye health in more detail. 

Retina Consultants of Austin may recommend certain types of treatment, depending on your medical history, condition, and the severity of your retinal detachment. 

Some of the treatment options include:

• Cryopexy to create scarring that reattaches your retina to the supporting wall
• Retinal lasers to reattach your retina to the underlying tissue
• Vitrectomy to restore the fluid in your eye that helps your eye maintain its shape

To learn more about retinal detachment, call Retina Consultants of Austin or schedule an appointment online today.