Why is a retinal tear considered a serious problem? When a tear of the retina occurs, the liquid in the vitreous cavity may pass through the tear and get under the retina. The liquid collects under the retina and lifts it up off the back wall of the eye. Little by little, the liquid from the vitreous passes through the retinal tear and settles under the retina, separating it from the back wall of the eye. This separation of the retina is called a retinal detachment. Vision is lost wherever the retina becomes detached. Because most tears are located in the peripheral (or side of the) retina, the retinal detachment first results in loss of side, or peripheral, vision. A patient may notice a dark shadow, or a veil, coming from one side, above or below. In most cases, after retinal detachment starts, the entire retina will eventually detach and all useful vision in that eye will be lost.

Who gets retinal detachment? Each year in the United States approximately one out of 10,000 people develps a retinal detachment. Certain people have a greater chance of getting a retinal detachment than others: those with a high degree of nearsightedness, a family history of retinal detachment, or those who once had a retinal detachment in the other eye. Patients who have thining of the retina (termed "lattice degeneration") or other degenerative changes of the retina are also at increased risk. Patients who have had cataract surgery have about a 1% to 2% chance of developing a retinal detachment. A person in any of these high risk groups should have a thorough retinal examination regularly and should be seen immediately if they experience sudden flashing of lights, new floaters, or loss of peripheral vision.