Guide To Common Eye Problems In Seniors And What To Do About Them

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency that must be treated immediately or patients could go permanently blind. It occurs when the retina pulls from its normal position in the eye, which leads it to become deprived of oxygen and nutrients. This means the cells start to die. Since the retina is responsible for receiving light signals, the damage could lead to permanent loss of vision. For seniors, the most common type of detachment is rhegmatogenous detachment, and there is no surefire way to prevent this from happening. Having enough nutrients for eye health can be helpful, but it's not a surefire bet. Treatment for tears nearly always involves some form of surgical repair, and full detachment needs surgery. There are a few different techniques available. A surgeon might inject gas or air into the eye, and they may also indent the surface of the eye during the repair. Another technique is to drain and replace the fluid in the eye during the surgery. The goal is to save as much retinal tissue as possible and prevent permanent vision loss.

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