Floaters & Retinal Detachment

1) What is retina?

Retina is the internal lining of the eyeball. It serves as the “film”of the transitional camera. It is important for central and peripheral vision.

2) What are floaters?

In the centre of eye there is a structure called Vitreous. When we are born the vitreous is crystal clear, as we age, degeneration deposit appears and this is seen as “floaters”. The total collapse of the vitreous gel denote a condition named Posterior vitreous detachment, at which one will see a massive amount of floaters associated with flashes of light in sometime.

3) Should I be worried if I have recent onset of floaters?

Floaters can be the symptoms of retinal detachment, retinal break, vitreous hemorrhage, inflammation or non-specific vitreous opacities. It is better to seek ophthalmologist advice with new onset or new change of floaters.

4) What is retinal tear?

It is a condition that a small part of the retina (usually the peripheral part) is no longer attached to the inner surface of the eye. It is a condition with urgency for treatment with laser photocoagulation as the risk of potential retinal detachment (and its consequence) outweigh the risk of laser therapy.

5) What is retinal detachment?

It is a condition that a large part or the whole of the retina separates from the inner surface of the eye. Without treatment that eye will gradually loss vision and other complications such as glaucoma, cataract, chronic intraocular inflammation will arise. Usually treatment involves pars plana vitrectomy, intraocular laser, and injection of gas or silicon oil inside the eyeball.