Retinal tear is when the retina, which is the back part of your eye, gets a little rip or hole in it.

The eye is filled with a clear-like jelly substance which is lined by the retina. As we age, this gel starts to separate from the retinal resulting in a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This usually happens without any complications. However, in some cases as the gel starts to separate from the retina, it pulls abnormally and can cause the retina to tear. Although some retinal tears may also be caused by eye trauma, most retinal tears occur spontaneously due to a PVD.

To diagnose a retinal tear, your ophthalmologist will review your symptoms and perform a comprehensive eye examination. This includes a dilated eye exam, Vision Testing, an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), and a Slip Lap Examination. If other testing is required, we will do this on the day.

Symptoms of a retinal tear can include seeing

• floaters
• flashes of light
• sudden blur or shadow in your vision

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and location of the tear. In some cases, small chronic retinal tears may not require immediate treatment and can be monitored over time. However, if the tear is sudden or causing vision symptoms, surgical treatment may be recommended to fix the tear and prevent it from getting bigger.