The vitreous is the clear collagen gel that fills the back of the eye between the retina and the lens. As we get older the vitreous may pull away from its attachment to the retina at the back of the eye. Usually the vitreous separates from the retina without causing a problem. But sometimes the vitreous pulls hard enough to tear the retina in one or more places. Fluid may pass through the retinal tear and lift the retina off the back of the eye like wallpaper can peel off a wall.
Retinal detachment can occur at any age, but it is more common in midlife and later.
It affects more men than women, and more caucasians than african-americans. The red area representing the retina has detached from the choroid layer of the eye. The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have a detached retina . However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for a complete exam. These treatments cause little or no discomfort and may be performed in your ophthalmologist's office.