Time is Vision
Do Not Wait for Symptoms to Improve
The retina is the light-sensitive wallpaper at the back of your eye. A retinal detachment occurs when this tissue pulls away from its normal position, cutting off its blood and oxygen supply.
A retinal detachment is painless, but it is an absolute medical emergency. If you experience warning signs, DO NOT wait to see if they "get better on their own." They will not.
Waiting even a single day can allow a small, easily treatable retinal tear to progress into a massive, full detachment involving the macula (the center of your vision). Once the macula detaches, permanent, irreversible vision loss is highly likely, and the required surgery becomes significantly more complex and invasive.
Warning Signs
Because retinal tears and detachments cause zero physical pain, you must be vigilant about visual changes.
Flashes of Light
Sudden, brief flashes of light in your peripheral (side) vision, similar to a camera flash or lightning. This occurs because the gel inside your eye is physically tugging on the retina.
A Shower of Floaters
While a few floaters are normal, a sudden, massive increase in new floaters (often looking like a swarm of gnats, cobwebs, or pepper) indicates a possible tear or bleeding in the eye.
A Dark Curtain or Shadow
A gray or black shadow that slowly moves across your field of vision, like a curtain being pulled down or across. This indicates the retina has actively detached.
Etiology
Who is Most at Risk?
High Myopia (Severe Nearsightedness)
People who are highly nearsighted have eyeballs that are physically longer than normal. This excessive elongation stretches the retina, making it significantly thinner, more fragile, and prone to tearing.
Ocular Trauma
A sudden, blunt force to the eye or head (such as a sports injury, airbag deployment, or fall) can create shockwaves that violently separate the retina from the back wall of the eye.
Previous Eye Surgery
Patients who have undergone previous intraocular surgeries, particularly Cataract Surgery, have a slightly elevated risk of retinal detachment due to changes in the structural dynamics inside the eye.
Age & PVD
As we age, the gel inside the eye (vitreous) naturally shrinks and pulls away from the retina (a Posterior Vitreous Detachment). If the gel is abnormally sticky, it can rip a hole in the retina as it pulls away.
The Action Plan
Expedited & Collaborative Care
When every hour counts, Dr. Fouladian utilizes his elite medical network to save your vision.
1
Immediate Urgent Diagnosis
If you call with symptoms of a detachment, our office will accommodate you immediately. Dr. Fouladian performs an urgent, highly magnified dilated fundus exam and utilizes wide-field Optomap imaging to locate the exact size and location of the tear or detachment.
Fast-Tracked Surgical Referral
You do not have time to wait in a standard referral queue. Because Dr. Fouladian is a highly respected diagnosing physician in Los Angeles, he maintains direct, personal relationships with the area's top Retina Specialists.
If a tear or detachment is found, we bypass the standard channels. Dr. Fouladian will often call the surgeon directly to secure an emergency, same-day appointment for you to receive immediate surgical intervention.
Possible Surgical Interventions
Laser Photocoagulation
For small tears. A laser "welds" the retina back to the underlying tissue, preventing a full detachment.
Cryopexy
A freezing probe is used to create scar tissue that seals the tear, similar to the laser method.
Pneumatic Retinopexy
A gas bubble is injected into the eye to push the detached retina back into place while it heals.
Vitrectomy & Scleral Buckle
Major surgeries for severe detachments. The eye gel is removed, or a silicone band is placed around the eye to relieve traction.
3
Post-Operative Management
After the Retina Specialist saves your vision, you return to Dr. Fouladian for long-term care. Retinal surgeries often drastically change the shape of your eye and your prescription. Dr. Fouladian meticulously manages your post-operative healing, monitors your eye pressure (which can spike after surgery), and eventually fits you with specialized eyeglasses or contact lenses to maximize your restored vision.
Do Not Ignore the Signs
If you see sudden flashes, new floaters, or a dark shadow in your vision, call us immediately. We accommodate same-day emergency visits.
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