The pilot underwent pneumatic retinopexy laser repair the same day. Subsequent physical exams have shown that his retina continues to be attached 360 degrees. The pilot's ophthalmologist plans to reevaluate him every six months to determine the stability of the vision and retina. After the review process, the medical certificate was issued to this pilot with instructions to notify his aviation medical examiner should new symptoms occur. There are, however, a variety of associated ocular and systemic disease states that increase the chances of retinal detachment.
Risk factors can be additive.
Patients who have had a retinal detachment in one eye are at a significantly greater risk for having a retinal detachment in the other eye provided the acquired risk factors are similar. The early symptoms of acute retinal detachment are tiny dark floating objects and flashes. The flashes tend to be located in the temporal visual field and are usually brief. Loss of visual field does not happen until sufficient fluid has passed through the retinal break. The diagnosis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is made by clinical diagnosis.