Emergency management: retinal detachment

Abstract

The retina is the light-sensitive part of the eye. The outer layer of the retina is composed of photoreceptor cells, which generate a nerve signal in response to light. Normally, this photoreceptor layer is in close contact with the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium. The photoreceptor cells depend on this contact for their metabolism. If they are separated from the choroid by a retinal detachment, they may be irreversibly damaged. This is why retinal detachment is an ophthalmic emergency.

Keywords

• retina
• retinal detachment