Sudden loss of vision is an ophthalmological emergency and requires immediate referral to the eye emergency department.
Patients experiencing acute onset flashers/floaters without other symptoms (no change in visual acuity, no visual field loss) should be referred urgently to an ophthalmologist (1).
Patients should be educated about the importance of prevention.
Invariably detachment continues until it it total and the affected eye will become blind. Non - rhegmatogenous detachment may be treated by high dose steroids accompanied by treatment of the underlying cause.
Rhegmatogenous detachment requires that the break be repaired. Flat retinal tears - ie. negligible detachment - may be sealed using laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy.
If the retina is detached surgical correction is required to reattach the retina and close any retinal breaks (2). Chorio-retinal apposition may be induced surgically by:
Surgical repair of retinal detachment not involving the macula are done on the same day or the following day but if the macula is already detached surgery should be attempted within five days (1).
Reference:
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