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Retinal detachment: causes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The risk factors for retinal detachment include peripheral vitreochorioretinal retinal dystrophy, already existing retinal detachment in one eye, complicated myopia, aphakia, congenital pathology and eye injury (direct and contusional), work associated with excessive physical stress and lifting of heavy weights, the presence of detachment or dystrophy in the retina of relatives of the first degree of kinship.
The detachment of the retina is due to the structural features of this structure. An important role in detachment of the retina is played by dystrophic processes in the retina and traction actions from the vitreous humor.
Vitreoretinal traction
Occur when the retina is pulled from the side of the structures that originate from the vitreous. The tract can be dynamic or static, and identifying the differences between them is a key point in understanding the pathogenesis of various types of retinal detachment.
Dynamic is caused by rapid movements of the eye and exerts a centripetal force in the direction of the vitreal cavity. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the "perforated" rupture of the retina and rheumatogenous retinal detachment.
Static is independent of eye movements and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of retinal tract retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. May be:
- tangential (superficial), which occurs parallel to the surface of the retina and is a consequence of tension of the enerythral or subretinal membrane;
- anteroposterior in which the retina ruptures anteriorly toward the base of the vitreous humor;
- overlapping (bridged), which arises between the two halves of the retina along the detached posterior surface of the hyaloid membrane.
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