The most common cause of retinal detachment is a retinal tear, which can occur, for example, as a complication of posterior vitreous detachment.
The retina is firmly attached only at its edge (ora serrata) and at the point where the optic nerve enters. Through tears in the retina, fluid from the vitreous cavity can pass underneath the retina, causing it to lift away. This separation may remain shallow and stable over time, or it may progress rapidly until the entire retina detaches.
If the tears are detected early and the fluid accumulation is localized, treatment with laser (so-called laser retinopexy) can be performed.
For extensive retinal detachments, surgery is required to reattach the retina. Vitrectomy is the most common surgical technique for retinal detachment.
An extensive retinal detachment must be surgically treated; if left untreated, it leads to blindness.