What is a retinal detachment? The retina is a layer of nerve
cells that lines the inside of the eye, like wallpaper, and
enables the eye to see images. For the retina to function and
remain healthy, it must stay attached to the inside of the eye
because part of its blood and nutrient supply comes from the eye
wall. If the retina is separated from the back of the eye, then
it can become damaged, sometimes leading to permanent vision
loss. Retinal detachments are painless. Most commonly, a retinal
detachment occurs after there is a tear in the retina. The
retina is a flat sheet, and if it is torn, fluid from inside the
eye can go through the tear and separate the retina from the
back of the eye, causing a detachment. The most common symptoms
of a retinal detachment are flashes of light, new floaters,
curved lines, waves, or “cobwebs” in the line of vision, or a
loss of part of the peripheral (side) field of vision. If any of
these symptoms occurs, it is important to contact your eye
doctor immediately. Sometime