Retinal Detachment Specialist
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New York Retina and Macula Institute
Vitreoretinal and Macula Surgeon & Medical Retina Specialist located in Midtown Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY
Retinal detachment is an emergency situation in which tissue at the back of your eye pulls away from its usual position. At New York Retina and Macula Institute, with convenient New York City locations in Midtown East Manhattan and Borough Park in Brooklyn, Aryeh L. Pollack, MD, specializes in retinal surgery. Dr. Pollack is a board-certified ophthalmologist who uses the latest techniques and treatments to correct retinal detachments and prevent total vision loss. To learn more about this serious eye condition, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online.
Retinal Detachment Q & A
What is retinal detachment?
Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of your eye. Light travels through your cornea and lens so your retina can focus and interpret the images you see and send a signal to your brain.
A retinal tear or retinal detachment occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of your eye. Once your retina detaches, vision becomes blurry. Other symptoms include:
- A sudden increase in the size and number of floaters in your field of vision
- Seeing a gray curtain move across your field of vision
- Seeing sudden flashes
- Shadowy figures in your peripheral vision
- Blurred vision
- Sudden vision loss
If you don’t seek immediate medical attention, a detached retina can lead to permanent blindness.
What causes retinal detachment?
Aging is the most common cause of retinal detachment. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments occur when the gel-like material in your eyeball, called vitreous, changes its consistency. With age, vitreous may become thinner, shrink, or become more liquidy than gel-like.
If the vitreous separates from the surface of your retina, it may simply tear the retina. Or, if the vitreous tugs hard enough on the retina, it can lead to a retinal detachment. Liquid vitreous can also pass through a tear in your retina and cause the retina to detach.
Macular degeneration, eye injury, and inflammatory disorders can also cause retinal detachment. And, if you have poorly managed diabetes, scar tissue can form on the surface of the retina, causing the retina to pull away from the back of your eye.
What is the treatment for retinal detachment?
If you have a detached retina, Dr. Pollack at New York Retina and Macula Institute performs retinal surgery to reattach it to your eye. Based on your individual condition, and if you have a tear or a retinal detachment, Dr. Pollack may perform laser surgery, scleral buckling, pneumatic retinopexy, or cryotherapy – a freezing treatment – to help seal your retina to the back of your eye.
For retinal detachments in which the retina has pulled away from its normal position, surgery is the only way to return your retina to its proper place and prevent blindness.
Dr. Pollack explains your specific procedure so you know what to expect going into treatment. He uses the latest technologies and most up-to-date surgical methods at New York Retina and Macula Institute, so you can be sure you’re receiving the highest standard of ophthalmology care during this serious situation.
If you experience the symptoms of a detached retina, seek immediate medical attention. To schedule an eye exam, contact the New York Retina and Macula Institute office closest to you by phone or through the online booking system.
