Retinal Detachment: What Increases Your Risk

Content provided by Healthwise

What Increases Your Risk

Things that increase your risk for retinal detachment include:

• A family history of retinal detachment.
• Previous retinal detachment in the other eye.
• Recent posterior vitreous detachment, in which the vitreous gel shrinks and separates from the retina.
• Lattice degeneration, an inherited condition in which parts of the retina become very thin and are easily torn.
• Age older than 50.
• Nearsightedness (myopia). The shape of a nearsighted eye results in more traction on the retina. This in turn can cause premature posterior vitreous detachment. The retina is also thinner and more likely to tear in people who are nearsighted.
• Surgery for cataracts. People who have had cataract surgery are at increased risk for later developing retinal detachment.
• Blunt injury or blow to the head.
• Injury to the eye.
• Diabetes, which can lead to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
• Other eye disorders or eye tumors.

Last updated:	September 14, 2007
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Terrina Vail