Retina emergency · Dubai
A detached retina is a medical emergency: the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye pulls away from the tissue that nourishes it. It is usually painless. Without prompt surgery it can cause permanent vision loss, but repairs succeed in about 9 out of 10 cases.
Sudden flashes of light, a shower of new floaters, or a dark shadow or curtain across your vision need same-day assessment. Call Ebsaar now; if the clinic is closed, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
In 60 seconds
What it is, how urgent it is and how it is repaired. The details and sources follow below.
Fluid collects under the retina, usually through a tear, and separates it from the layer that supplies it with oxygen and nutrients.
The sooner the retina is reattached, especially before the central macula detaches, the better the chance of keeping good vision.
The retina is pushed back into place and the tear is sealed with laser or freezing treatment, usually under local anaesthetic.
Yes, in most cases. According to the American Society of Retina Specialists, retinal detachment repairs succeed in about 9 out of 10 cases, although some patients need more than one operation. How much vision returns depends mainly on how long the retina was detached and whether the macula, the centre of the retina, was involved. That is why speed matters.
The retina is the thin, light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye and converts light into signals the brain reads as vision. A detached retina (retinal detachment) happens when the retina separates from the layer beneath it, which supplies it with oxygen and nutrients. The detached part stops working, and without treatment the damage can become permanent.
A detachment can start in the side vision and spread towards the macula, the centre of the retina responsible for sharp reading and face vision. Retinal detachment affects roughly 1 in 10,000 people each year, and the risk rises with age, particularly after 50. Ebsaar’s retina service in Dubai examines suspected detachments urgently.
The U.S. National Eye Institute describes three types. Knowing the type helps the surgeon choose the right treatment.
| Type | What happens | Most common cause | Usual treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhegmatogenous | A tear or hole lets fluid pass under the retina. This is the most common type. | Age-related shrinking of the vitreous gel pulling on the retina. | Surgery: pneumatic retinopexy, vitrectomy or scleral buckle. |
| Tractional | Scar tissue on the retina’s surface pulls it away from the back of the eye. | Diabetic retinopathy. | Usually vitrectomy to remove the scar tissue. |
| Exudative | Fluid builds up behind the retina without any tear or break. | Leaking blood vessels or swelling, for example from inflammation or tumours. | Treating the underlying cause. |
Symptoms often start suddenly and can progress over hours or days. They usually affect one eye. If you notice any of the following, get an urgent eye examination even if your sight still seems fine:
Treat these as an eye emergency and seek same-day care from an ophthalmologist or a hospital emergency department:
Most detachments start with a retinal tear. As we age, the vitreous gel that fills the eye shrinks and can pull away from the retina, sometimes hard enough to tear it. Fluid then passes through the tear and lifts the retina. You are at higher risk if you:
A retinal tear is a break in the retina that has not yet let enough fluid underneath to lift it. Found early, a tear can often be sealed in the clinic with laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy (freezing), which create a scar around the tear and can prevent a detachment. A retinal detachment means the retina has already lifted, and it needs surgery to reattach it. This is why new flashes and floaters should be checked quickly, before a tear becomes a detachment.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by an ophthalmologist during a same-day examination. It is quick and painless.
Drops widen the pupil so the doctor can examine the whole retina with special lenses and find every tear.
Optical coherence tomography gives cross-section images showing whether fluid has reached the macula.
Used when bleeding or a cataract blocks the view, to see whether the retina is attached.
Treatment depends on the type, size and location of the detachment, the number of tears and whether scar tissue is present. Surgery is usually done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake but the eye is numbed, and most people do not need to stay in hospital overnight (NHS).
| Feature | Pneumatic retinopexy | Vitrectomy | Scleral buckle |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | A gas bubble injected into the eye presses the retina back; the tear is sealed with laser or freezing. | The vitreous gel is removed and replaced with gas, air or silicone oil to hold the retina in place. | A soft silicone band sewn to the outside of the eye indents the wall towards the retina. |
| Often used for | Small, uncomplicated detachments with a tear in the upper retina. | Larger or complex detachments, including those with scar tissue or bleeding. | Selected detachments, often in younger patients; can be combined with vitrectomy. |
| Incision | Minimal: an injection only | Small ports in the white of the eye | Band placed on the outside of the eye |
| Head positioning | Yes, for several days, when a gas bubble is used. | Usually not needed unless combined with gas. | |
| Main trade-off | Strict positioning is essential for success. | Speeds up cataract formation; silicone oil needs a second operation to remove. | The band usually stays in place and can change the eye’s prescription. |
A small gas bubble is injected into the eye. You then hold your head in a set position so the bubble floats against the tear and presses the retina back into place, and the tear is sealed with laser or cryotherapy. It avoids a major incision and can be done in the clinic, but strict positioning is critical.
The surgeon removes the vitreous gel that is pulling on the retina, flattens the retina, seals the tears with laser and fills the eye with gas or silicone oil. A gas bubble is absorbed over several weeks, depending on the gas used; silicone oil is usually removed in a later operation. Vitrectomy is used for more complex detachments, including those with scar tissue.
A flexible silicone band is stitched to the sclera, the white outer wall of the eye, gently pushing the wall inwards so it meets the detached retina. The band usually stays in place permanently. It has been used for decades and can be combined with vitrectomy.
Recovery depends on the operation, but most people eventually return to their normal activities. This is a typical course based on NHS guidance; your surgeon gives you a personal aftercare plan.
All surgery carries risks, but untreated retinal detachment usually leads to permanent vision loss in that eye. Your surgeon will discuss:
The cost depends on the operation needed (pneumatic retinopexy, vitrectomy or scleral buckle), whether gas or silicone oil is used, any second procedure such as oil removal, and the follow-up included. Ebsaar explains the treatment plan and cost after the examination. Retinal detachment repair is a medically necessary operation, so ask your insurer about cover and pre-approval, but never delay urgent treatment while waiting for paperwork.
Ebsaar · Dubai
Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center in Jumeirah, Dubai provides comprehensive ophthalmology care, including retina services, cataract surgery, glaucoma management, cornea treatment and vision correction. If you have symptoms of a retinal tear or detachment, call the clinic so your examination can be arranged without delay.
Flashes, floaters or a shadow?
Call Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center in Dubai to arrange an urgent retina examination. If the clinic is closed, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Short, direct answers to the questions patients ask most. They do not replace an eye examination.
Most people notice sudden flashes of light, a shower of new floaters, or a dark shadow or curtain spreading across part of their side vision. Vision can also become blurred or distorted, usually in one eye. The more of the retina that detaches, especially the central macula, the more vision is affected.
A detached retina usually does not hurt. The signs are visual, not physical: flashes, floaters, a shadow or blurred vision. Because there is no pain, people sometimes delay getting help, which increases the risk of permanent vision loss.
Most detachments start with a retinal tear. With age, the vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks and can pull on the retina hard enough to tear it, letting fluid pass underneath. High myopia, previous eye surgery such as cataract surgery, eye injury, a previous retinal tear and a family history all increase the risk.
No. A detached retina does not reattach by itself and needs treatment. A retinal tear found before it detaches can often be sealed with laser or freezing treatment, but a detachment needs surgery.
Yes, in most cases. Retinal detachment repairs succeed in about 9 out of 10 cases, according to the American Society of Retina Specialists, although some people need more than one operation. How much vision returns depends on how long the retina was detached and whether the macula was involved.
As soon as possible. Sudden flashes, floaters or a shadow need a same-day eye examination. Detachments that have not yet reached the macula are treated urgently to protect central vision, because the longer the retina stays detached, the higher the risk of permanent loss.
Yes. Without treatment, a detached retina usually leads to permanent vision loss in the affected eye. Prompt surgery gives the best chance of saving sight, although some vision may remain reduced if the macula was detached.
Surgery is usually done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake but the eye is numbed and you should not feel pain. Afterwards the eye may be sore and red for a few days, which is managed with drops and simple pain relief.
Vision is often blurry for 2 to 6 weeks, and the eye may be sore and red. You may not be able to drive during this time. Vision can keep improving for several months, and most people eventually return to their normal activities.
Not while there is a gas bubble in your eye. The gas expands at altitude and can dangerously raise eye pressure. Your surgeon will tell you when the gas has fully absorbed and it is safe to fly. Silicone oil does not carry the same flying restriction.
Retinal detachment is relatively uncommon, affecting roughly 1 in 10,000 people each year. The risk rises with age, especially after 50, and is higher in people who are very nearsighted, have had eye surgery or an eye injury, or have a family history.
Yes. Flashes and floaters can seem to come and go, but that does not mean the problem has resolved. A tear or small detachment can spread over hours or days, so any new symptoms should be checked urgently.
Not directly. A detached retina does not usually cause true double vision or dizziness, but blurred or distorted vision in one eye can feel disorienting. Any sudden change in vision should be examined promptly.
The cost depends on the operation needed, whether gas or silicone oil is used, any further procedures and the follow-up included. Ebsaar explains the treatment plan and cost after the examination. Ask your insurer about cover, but do not delay urgent treatment.
