St.

Ferdinand College
College of Health Sciences
Ilagan, Isabela

NURSING CARE MANAGEMENT 104 (LEC.)

CONCEPT: PERCEPTION & COORDINATION

RETINAL
DETACHMENT
DESCRIPTION OF THE
DISEASE
 A separation of the retina from its
attachments to its underlying tissue
within the eye.
 Most are a result of a retinal break, hole,
or tear.
TYPES OF RETINAL
DETACHMENT
RHEGMATOGENOUS R.D.
 Is the most common, deriving its name
from “rhegma”, meaning rent or break.
Vitreous fluid enters the break and
separates the sensory retina from the
underlying RPE, resulting in
detachment.
EXUDATIVE/ SEROUS
DETACHMENT
 Occurs when sub-retinal fluid
accumulates and causes detachment
without any corresponding break in the
retina. The etiologic factors are often
tumor growth or inflammation.
TRACTIONAL R.D.
 Occurs as a result of adhesions between the
vitreous gel and the retina. Centripetal mechanical
forces cause the separation of the retina from the
RPE without a retinal break. Advanced adhesion
may result in the development of a tear or break.
The most common causes of tractional retinal
detachment are proliferative diabetic retinopathy,
sickle cell disease, advanced retinopathy of
prematurity and penetrating trauma. Vitreoretinal
traction increases with age, as the vitreous gel
shrinks and collapses over time, frequently causing
posterior vitreous detachments in approximately two
thirds of persons older than 70 years.
SYMPTOMS
 Flashing lights and floaters
 Shadow/ curtain-like image
Images of patient’s vision
DETECTION AND
DIAGNOSIS
Opthalmoscopy or Slit-lamp Exam
 With full pupil dilation shows retina as
gray or opaque in detached areas. (The
retina is normally transparent)
TREATMENT
Pneumatic Retinopexy
 The injection of a gas bubble into the
vitreous space inside the eye enabling
the gas bubble to push the retinal tear
back against the wall of the eye and
close the tear.
Laser surgery or Cryotherapy
Vitrectomy
Scleral Buckle