Retinal detachment – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Retinal detachment is defined as the separation of the retina from the choroid – a thin membrane that supplies nutrients to parts of the retina. Essentially, the movement of the retina away from the inner wall of the eyeball causes defects in vision.

Depending on the severity of the detachment, a person may experience different changes in his vision. For some, it looks like a curtain or shadow is hindering the eyesight. There may be an unnoticeable blind spot if only a part of the retina was detached. In the event the whole retina was separated, there may be only a small hole of vision remaining.

Known risk factors and symptoms of retinal detachment

The risk factors of retinal detachment include the following:

• People who are nearsighted
• People who have had a retinal detachment in the other eye
• A family history of retinal detachment
• People who have undergone a cataract surgery
• People with other eye diseases or disorders
• People who have had an eye injury

Those who may be suffering from this eye condition may experience these signs and symptoms:

• Sudden or gradual increase in the number of floaters – black or gray specks, strings, or cobwebs that follow one’s field of vision.
• Sudden, brief flashes of light or photopsia.
• Heavy feeling in the eye.
• A shadow or curtain that appears in the peripheral view and slowly spreads towards the center of vision.
• Straight lines start to appear curved.

Body systems affected by retinal detachment

Although retinal detachment does not affect any other parts of the body, it can still lead to a complete loss of vision. Aside from that, patients can also develop other eye diseases, such as cataract, glaucoma, infection, hemorrhage into the vitreous cavity, or loss of the eye.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent or relieve retinal detachment

To prevent or relieve the symptoms of retinal detachment, health experts recommend higher consumption of the following vitamins:

• Vitamin A – Helps prevent oxidation and breakdown of retina cells.  It can be sourced from foods like carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe, beef liver, and chicken liver,
• Vitamin C – This vitamin is good for the eye’s blood vessels. Fruits like oranges and foods like spinach, tomatoes, and bananas are good sources of vitamin C.
• Vitamin E – It helps provide healthy membranes for the retina. Foods like seeds and nuts and sweet potatoes are rich in this nutrient.

Treatment and management options for retinal detachment

While there are some conventional ways used in the medical field to treat retinal detachment, it’s still best to prevent it from happening. One can do this by simply being more careful and making sure that the eye doesn’t get injured. It is also very important to go on regular eye check-ups and undergo eye exams to ensure the eye’s health.

Where to learn more

• Sunlight is healthy for the eyes: Millions of children have compromised eyesight from not getting enough natural light
• Overuse of electronics is causing worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness in children
• 12 Foods for Boosting your Eye Health
• Maintain good eye health with food

Summary

Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from the inner wall of the eyeball causing vision problems. It normally occurs in people who are nearsighted, has sustained an eye injury, has other eye diseases or has a family history of retinal detachment.

Signs and symptoms of this eye condition include an increase in the number of floaters, experience photopsia, heavy feeling in the eye, and a shadow in the peripheral view. In the event that retinal detachment is left untreated, it can cause complete loss of vision.

Vitamins A, C, and E are known for being effective in combating the symptoms of retinal detachment. Meanwhile, preventing it can be done by simply ensuring that the eye does not get injured.

Sources include:

Medical-Dictionary.TheFreeDictionary.com

NEI.NIH.gov

MedicalNewsToday.com

BetterHealth.vic.gov.au

HealthLine.com