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Retinal detachment - classification

A retinal detachment (RD) refers to the condition where the neurosensory retina lifts off and separates from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

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Classification

Possible causes of a RD include:

Symptoms

A sudden or dramatic onset in:

Signs

The retina appears elevated and undulating or billowing with eye movements. While retinal blood vessels may be visible, the underlying choroidal detail is obscured. When the RD is recent, the retina may be relatively transparent, but with time the separated tissue becomes more opaque. If the detachment has been static for some months, the posterior border may be pigmented. A rhegmatogenous RD is indicated by the presence of a retinal break, often a tear, more obvious with scleral indentation. There may be pigment cells in the vitreous (Shafer's sign), as well as reduced intraocular pressure and a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). Peripheral retinal lesions which are not considered a predisposing condition for RD:

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