A retinal detachment is an abnormal separation between the two layers forming the retina: the pigment epithelium (external layer) and the sensory retina (internal layer), which are separated by fluid. If the condition is not treated, the retina detachment can lead to the complete loss of sight in the affected eye.
The retina may be placed back to its proper position with the placement of a scleral buckle.
The retina and vitreous can be affected by a large variety of conditions, including intraocular hemorrhage, retinal detachment, macular holes, etc. that can cause severe loss of vision. Such cases can be treated with a surgical technique called posterior vitrectomy, which may –or may not- be combined with a scleral buckle.
Certain diseases, such as age related macular degeneration or macular diabetic edema can produce the growth of abnormal blood vessels, causing bleeding and/or accumulation of fluids in the thickness of the retina. In those instances, treatment of the condition requires the injection of medication into the eye, specifically in the vitreous chamber. These substances, such as Bevacizumab or Triamcinolone are introduced into the eye with a very fine needle, to exert a local therapeutic effect.
Treatment of diabetic retinopathy will depend on the type and severity of the case. The condition might require laser photocoagulation treatment to the retina which, in some instances can be associated to intravetreal injection of substances, such as Bevacizumab.
Ultimately when the patient's vision is affected by proliferative diabetic retinopathy, complicated by vitreous hemorrhage (be it associated or not with detachment of the retina), the condition will require treatment with posterior vitrectomy –with or without scleral buckle- depending on each case.