What is the most common type of retinal detachment?

Rhegmatogenous (reg-ma-TODGE-uh-nus). These types of retinal detachments are the most common. Rhegmatogenous detachments are caused by a hole or tear in the retina that allows fluid to pass through and collect underneath the retina, pulling the retina away from underlying tissues.

How do you differentiate different types of retinal detachment?

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment has a characteristic appearance differentiating it from a tractional or serous detachment. A rhegmatogenous retinal detachment has a corrugated appearance and undulates with eye movements. Tractional detachments have smooth concave surfaces with minimal shifting with eye movements.

What is an inferior retinal detachment?

Inferior retinal detachments can often be silent and slowly progressive so that the onset of RD goes unnoticed until it reaches the posterior pole. Sometimes RD is accompanied by mild discomfort and redness due to associated uveitis and hypotony, and this may be mistakenly diagnosed as idiopathic anterior uveitis.

Is a retinal tear worse than retinal detachment?

If there is a retinal tear, the retina remains attached to the back of the eye, but the portion that is torn may pull away. Retinal tears are not as serious as retinal detachment, but they can lead to retinal detachment if they are not treated properly.

Can you have bilateral retinal detachment?

Comment. Bilateral simultaneous, retinal detachment has an annual incidence of 0.35 patients per 100 000 population. They are more likely to occur in young, myopic, or male patients and tend to present with unilateral visual symptoms.

What is Tractional retinal detachment?

Retinal traction detachment (RTD) is the separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium due to the traction resulting from membranes in the vitreous or over the retinal surface. These membranes result from a number of causes. The most common cause of RTD is diabetes mellitus.