Retinal Detachment

Abstract

Detachment of the retina is a serious event, which may result in complete blindness. The outer segments of the photoreceptors receive oxygen and nutrition from the choroid. If the retina is detached from the choroid, the photoreceptors will fail. The fovea has no retinal blood vessels and depends wholly on the choroid for its oxygen, so detachment of the macula leads to permanent damage to the cones and rods at the posterior pole, and loss of vision. If the macula is not detached, then good vision can be retained if the retina is re-attached promptly.