Are retinal holes serious?

Are retinal holes serious?

Retinal holes and tears do not automatically cause severe vision problems; instead, the areas of the retina that have holes and tears will not function correctly. If the condition is not well managed or treated in due time, then significant vision loss or even blindness can occur.

What happens when you have a hole in your retina?

A macular hole is a small break in the macula, located in the center of the eye’s light-sensitive tissue called the retina. The macula provides the sharp, central vision we need for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A macular hole can cause blurred and distorted central vision.

Can holes in the retina be repaired?

If holes or tears in the retina are found before the retina detaches, the eye doctor can close the holes using a laser. This procedure is most often done in the health care provider’s office. If the retina has just started to detach, a procedure called pneumatic retinopexy may be done to repair it.

What causes a hole behind the eye?

Vitreous traction: the vitreous is the “gel” that fills up the inside of the eye. With normal aging, the vitreous can shrink and pull away from the retina, sometimes creating a macular hole in the process. Injury or trauma: some young people develop macular holes after blunt trauma. Diabetic eye disease.

How long does it take to heal from a vitrectomy?

After the surgery, your eye may be swollen, red, or tender for several weeks. You might have some pain in your eye and your vision may be blurry for a few days after the surgery. You will need 2 to 4 weeks to recover before you can do your normal activities again.

How do you get a hole in the retina?

What Causes a Macular Hole?

1. Injury or trauma: some young people develop macular holes after blunt trauma.
2. Diabetic eye disease.
3. High degree of myopia (nearsightedness)
4. Macular pucker: formation of scar tissue over the macula that can warp and contract, causing wrinkling of the retina.
5. Retinal detachment.

Can you go blind from a macular hole?

Even if surgery does not successfully correct your central vision, a macular hole never affects your peripheral vision, so you’d never go completely blind from this condition.

Is a retinal hole an emergency?

Certain changes in your vision can indicate serious damage to the retina, such as holes and tears or detached retina, an emergency situation in which you can permanently lose your vision. Retinal detachment itself is painless, but there are almost always warning signs.

How long does vitrectomy surgery take?

A vitrectomy can take anywhere from one to several hours, depending on what condition you’re treating. It may be just one in a series of procedures to repair a problem. You’ll have the option to stay awake and use numbing drops or shots in your eye.

Is a vitrectomy a serious operation?

Vitrectomy procedures are an effective surgery and severe complications are rare. According to the American Society of Retina Specialists, most surgeries have a 90 percent success rate.

How serious is a vitrectomy?

If not treated, some of them can even result in blindness. In some cases, vitrectomy can restore lost vision. You might need a vitrectomy done in an emergency — an eye injury, for example.

What happens if a macular hole is left untreated?

If left untreated, a macular hole can lead to a detached retina. Detached retina is a serious condition that can result in severe vision loss. People with detached retina need immediate medical attention.

What is a retinal hole and what causes it?

What is a retinal hole? A retinal hole is a small break or defect in the light-sensitive retina that lines the inside of the back of the eye. Retinal holes can occur anywhere in the retina. When a hole develops in the macula lutea (the most sensitive part of the central retina), it’s called a macular hole.

Can retinal holes and tears cause blindness?

However, retinal holes and tears may cause problems if they allow fluid to seep behind the retina. If a lot of fluid gets behind the retina, the retina can separate from the wall of the eye. The detached part of the retina will not work properly. Detachment of the retina is a serious condition that can lead to total blindness.

What happens if you have a hole in your eye?

Usually holes and tears do not mean you will have serious vision problems right away. However, retinal holes and tears may cause problems if they allow fluid to seep behind the retina. If a lot of fluid gets behind the retina, the retina can separate from the wall of the eye.

How can I prevent retinal holes and tears?

Other than protecting your eyes from injury, there is no way to prevent retinal holes and tears. However, you can help prevent blindness if you see your eye doctor for regular checkups or as soon as you have symptoms of holes or tears.