Corneacare Logo
  • CorneaCare Logo
  • Shop
    • Shop All
    • Eyelid Hygiene
    • Eye Vitamins
    • Eye Drops
    • Eyecare Bundles
  • Education
    • Dry Eye Disease
      • Dry Eye 101
      • Causes & Diagnosis
      • Lifestyle
      • Treatment
      • Why It Matters
    • Eye Health & Wellness
    • Eye Glossary
    • Take the Quiz
  • Community
  • App
  • Take the Quiz
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • My Account
Login
Cart Icon 0
Take the Quiz
  • Shop
  • Education
  • Our App
  • Take the Quiz
  • Shop
  • Education
  • Our App
  • Take the Quiz

A-Z Glossary

Table of Contents

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Courtney Dryer, OD
Written byCourtney Dryer, OD
Courtney Dryer, OD
Courtney Dryer, ODOptometristCharlotte, NC

Bio

Dr. Courtney Dryer earned her doctorate from Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee in 2011. She opened her own practice Autarchic Spec Shop in 2013 in Charlotte, NC. She has had the privilege of writing for numerous optometric publications and serving in various industry capacities. In 2015, Vision Monday named her a rising star and one of the most influential women in optometry. Her optometric passions include practice management, specialty contact lenses, and dry eye management.

  • Last updated March 22, 2023

What is a Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment?

A rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is the most common retina emergency with an incidence of 1 in 10,000 individuals per year. RRD occurs when a retinal tear or hole allows fluid to accumulate below the retinal surface, causing the retina to separate from the underlying layers. A retinal detachment is a separation of the neurosensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium and can lead to vision loss. 

Key Takeaways

  • Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments are a serious ocular emergency.
  • A sudden onset of floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain may indicate a rhegmatogenous detachment.
  • Scleral buckles, vitrectomy, and pneumatic retinopexy are treatments for rhegmatogenous detachments.
You brush your teeth,
moisturize your skin,
what about your eyes?
Take the quiz

Understanding Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) are caused by the passage and collection of fluid into the retina through a hole or tear. The fluid builds up and causes the retina to pull away from underlying tissues resulting in the loss of the blood supply. RRD can result in a deterioration of one’s peripheral vision and central vision when it involves the macula. Rapid reattachment is required to prevent the eye from further photoreceptor damage and visual loss.

Tractional and exudative are the other two types of retinal detachments. Tractional detachments occur when scar tissue, typically from diabetic retinopathy, grows on the retinal surface causing the retina to pull away from the back of the eye. In an exudative detachment, there are no holes or tears, but fluid accumulates beneath the eye. An exudative detachment may be caused by age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), injury, tumors, or inflammatory disorders.

Risk Factors for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments

Myopia (near-sightedness) and prior cataract surgery are the main risk factors for an RRD. Those in the sixth and seventh decades of life are most affected. It affects men more than women, and white people more than black people.  Patients with a history of trauma, eye surgery, eye injury or previous retinal detachment are at an increased risk. Other eye diseases or disorders, including retinoschisis, uveitis and lattice degeneration (retinal thinning) may put a patient at risk.

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Symptoms

The symptoms of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment include:

  • The sudden appearance of many floaters 
  • Flashes of light 
  • Blurred vision
  • Gradually reduced side (peripheral) vision
  • A curtain-like shadow over the field of vision

Diagnosing Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments

A rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is diagnosed by an eye doctor during a dilated eye exam. 

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Treatment

The treatment for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) consists of a scleral buckle, removal of the vitreous body (vitrectomy), or a combination of both. Scleral buckle (SB) is the use of a silicone band placed around the eye to reduce traction on the retina caused by the vitreous humor that fills the eye. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) eliminates traction on the retina by removing the vitreous, and a pneumatic retinopexy (PR) is used to reattach the retina by holding it back into place with an expanding gas bubble. However, no consensus has been reached on which approach is ideal.

Success rates for RRD repair are in the range of 85% to 90%; however, vitrectomy results in cataracts in more than 70% of cases. The earlier the patient is seen by an ophthalmologist, the greater the chance that the macula is still attached, so vision can be preserved. ’Macula-on’ detachments where the fovea is still attached have a better prognosis. ‘Macula-off’ retinal detachments have a worse prognosis even with successful reattachment of the retina.

Bibliography

  1. Feltgen N, Walter P. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment–an ophthalmologic emergency. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Jan 6;111(1-2):12-21; quiz 22. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0012. PMID: 24565273; PMCID: PMC3948016.
  2. Kunikata H, Abe T, Nakazawa T. Historical, Current and Future Approaches to Surgery for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2019 Jul;248(3):159-168. doi: 10.1620/tjem.248.159. PMID: 31308289.
  3. Lee, J., Seo, E.J. & Yoon, Y.H. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment induces more severe macular capillary changes than central serous chorioretinopathy. Sci Rep 12, 7018 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11062-6
  4. Steel D. Retinal detachment. BMJ Clin Evid. 2014 Mar 3;2014:0710. PMID: 24807890; PMCID: PMC3940167.

Related Terms

Loading...

Canaliculitis

is a disease of the lacrimal canaliculus, which is a small duct in the eyelid

Orbital Pseudotumor

is an inflammation of the soft tissues and muscles inside of the orbit, the cavity in the skull that holds the eye

Dacryostenosis

is inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct (tear sac), mainly due to poor tear drainage

Scotopic Vision

refers to your eyes’ ability to see in low light levels

Aniridia

is a complete or partial absence of the iris, the colored part of the eye

Toxocariasis

is an infection caused by roundworms, found in dog and cat intestines, which results in unilateral vision loss

Related Articles

Loading...
  • Eye Health & Wellness

How Long is an Eye Exam?

7 min read

Eye exams are an important part of your overall health, and we’ll cover how long an eye exam is so you can fit it in your schedule.
Heather Cottrell

Heather Cottrell

  • Eye Health & Wellness

Why Does My Eye Feel Sore? Understanding the Causes and Remedies

7 min read

We cover the many reasons why your eye may feel sore, how to get relief, and when to see your eye doctor.
Heather Cottrell

Heather Cottrell

  • Eye Health & Wellness

Causes of Eye Discoloration in the White Part

6 min read

We cover the many causes of eye discoloration in the white part of the eye and when to see your eye doctor.
Heather Cottrell

Heather Cottrell

Logo_Corneacare_White

    • Shop
    • Wholesale
    • Education
    • Community
    • App
    • Eye Glossary
    Menu
    • Shop
    • Wholesale
    • Education
    • Community
    • App
    • Eye Glossary
    • Contact
    • Terms of service
    • Privacy policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Contact
    • Terms of service
    • Privacy policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Education
    • Shop
    • Wholesale
    • Contact
    • Terms of service
    • Privacy policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Education
    • Shop
    • Wholesale
    • Contact
    • Terms of service
    • Privacy policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Education
    • Shop
    • Wholesale
    • Contact
    • Terms of service
    • Privacy policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    • Education
    • Shop
    • Wholesale
    • Contact
    • Terms of service
    • Privacy policy
    • Shipping & Returns
    Instagram Facebook_Pink Youtube Twitter Tiktok
    Copyright – © 2023 CorneaCare, Inc. ⚡️ All rights reserved
    *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease

    Wholesale inquiry

    Please fill out the form below, and we will be in touch shortly.

    20% OFF Personalized Eyecare
    20% OFF personalized eyecare
    Take the quiz
    20% OFF personalized, convenient and effective eyecare
    20% OFF personalized eyecare
    Take the quiz
    Take the quiz