Introduction:

Retinal detachment (RD) is a separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. There are three different forms of RDs:

Some eyes may present with a combination of these three. Tractional and exudative detachments are dealt in greater detail in the chapters associated with their underlying pathologies. Rhegmatogenous RD are more common in men, particularly those between 40 and 70 years of age. Risk factors for rhegmatogenous RD include prior cataract surgery, myopia, trauma, peripheral lattice degeneration, a family history of rhegmatogenous RDs, retinal tears and other intraocular surgery. Tractional RDs occur most commonly in the setting of fibrous membranes in the vitreous, secondary to diseases like proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, sickle cell retinopathy, trauma or proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Exudative RDs occur secondary to neoplastic or inflammatory processes, central serous chorioretinopathy, or uveal effusion syndrome

Clinical features: