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What is retinal tear?
9 December 2025
This is a serious ocular condition that occurs when the retina, which is a light-sensitive layer located at the back of the eye, suffers a tear or hole. If not treated promptly, this can lead to a retinal detachment—a separation from the back of the eye—putting vision at risk.
A retinal tear is produced by the interaction between the retina and the vitreous body. As we age, the vitreous gel in the eyes begins to thin and shrink, allowing it to adhere to and tear the retina. This often causes fluid to pass through the tear, lifting and detaching the retina.
Like any condition, there are a series of factors that can favor a retinal tear, such as:
- Family history of retinal detachment.
- Eye surgeries to treat cataracts or glaucoma.
- Weakness in certain areas of the retina.
- Normal aging of the eye.
- Inflammation.
- Having suffered severe eye trauma.
- Having had a retinal tear or detachment in the other eye.
- Medications for certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma.
- Being myopic (nearsighted).
Signs and symptoms Retinal Tear
- Flashes of light.
- Flashing lights.
- Floaters (myodesopsias).
- Rapid vision loss.
- Total vision loss in one eye.
- A grey shadow or curtain covering part of the field of vision.
- Appearance of a shadow in the peripheral or side vision.
- Wavy or watery vision.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is essential that you immediately see a specialist, as a retinal tear can lead to detachment and cause total vision loss.
In rare cases, a retinal tear presents no symptoms, so it can only be detected during a routine eye exam.
Diagnosis and treatment Retinal Tear
Once your ophthalmologist analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform eye exams to observe any changes inside the eye and evaluate the retina.
Provided the diagnosis is made in time, the treatment for a retinal tear consists of retinal repair using one of the following laser-based ocular procedures:
- Photocoagulation: which consists of sealing the retina to the eye wall.
- Cryopexy: extreme cold is used to freeze the retina around the tear and create scar tissue that seals the retina to the eye wall.
Both procedures aim to prevent the vitreous gel from passing through the tear and detaching the retina.
Related centers and departments Retinal Tear
Fuentes:
- aao.org
- icrcat.com
- nih.gov
- cun.es
- topdoctors.es
- medlinesplus.gov
- msdmanuals.com
- medigraphic.com
- Quezada-Ruiz C, Cano-Hidalgo RA. Desgarros retinianos gigantes tratados con vitrectomía calibre 23, abordaje bimanual, sin cerclaje escleral y sin tocar el cristalino. Cir Cir. 2014;82(3):245-251.
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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.
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