All of these surgical techniques are done microscopically. We want to reassure you that your surgeon does not take your eye out of its socket to operate on it. This is simply impossible. These conditions may be caused by a number of factors ranging from a physiological weakness of the retina to a positive family history. The risk of spontaneous retinal tears and detachments increase as we grow older.
Nearsighted individuals are at an increased risk for retinal tears and detachments.
Persons who have had cataract surgery or have experienced a blow to the head or injury to the eye are also at risk for retinal tears or detachments. If you have had a retinal detachment in one eye, you are at increased risk of developing one in the other eye. But there is only about a one in ten chance of this happening. Retinal detachments do not happen as a result of straining your eyes, bending or heavy lifting. Retinal detachments in general are quite uncommon however and only about one person in ten thousand is affected.