Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Retinal Detachment
The retina is a layer of tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain. It provides the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A retinal detachment lifts or pulls the retina from its normal position. It can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over age 40. It affects men more than women and whites more than African Americans. A retinal detachment is also more likely to occur in people who:
- Are extremely nearsighted
- Have had a retinal detachment in the other eye
- Have a family history of retinal detachment
- Have had cataract surgery
- Have other eye diseases or disorders
- Have had an eye injury
Symptoms include an increase in the number of floaters, which are little "cobwebs" or specks that float about in your field of vision, and/or light flashes in the eye. It may also seem like there is a "curtain" over your field of vision.
A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If not promptly treated, it can cause permanent vision loss. If you have any symptoms, see an eye care professional immediately. Treatment includes different types of surgery.
It sits within Eyes and Vision.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Eye Institute.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Retinal Detachment
261 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Reliability of Optical and Ultrasound Biometry in Silicon Filled EyesSohag University
- DISCOVER Study: Microscope-integrated Intraoperative OCT StudyThe Cleveland Clinic
- The Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Topotecan for the Treatment of Proliferative VitreoretinopathyMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Retinal Detachment Prevention (Laser Prophylaxis) in Stickler Syndrome (SS)Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation
- Corneal Endothelial Cell Changes In Silicon Filled EyeMinia University
- Dropless Pars Plana Vitrectomy StudyMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Research already completed
- DEXTENZA in Pediatric Patients Following Retinal Surgery or Laser Treatment Under AnesthesiaLejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS
- Influence of Tamponade on Retinal Shift in Eyes Undergoing Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Comparison of Gas Versus Silicone Oil in a Pakistani PopulationWardah
- Influence of Posterior Vitreous Detachment on Retinal Detachment After Lens Surgery in Myopic EyesPrim. Prof. Dr. Oliver Findl, MBA
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Detached RetinaAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology
- Retinal DetachmentNational Eye Institute
Diagnosis and Tests
- Dilating Eye DropsAmerican Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Treatments and Therapies
- Retinal detachment repair - seriesMedical Encyclopedia
Related Issues
- FloatersNational Eye Institute
- Vitreous DetachmentNational Eye Institute
Statistics and Research
- Eye Health Data and StatisticsNational Eye Institute
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Retinal DetachmentNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Retinal Detachment. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Retinal Detachment, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.