If there are symptoms, usually people see lightning flashes sporadically. They are usually discovered on routine dilated eye exams. They place one at higher risk for retinal detachments. Retina detachments and tears are treatable, while vitreous detachments are not. Retinal detachments are treated with a scleral buckle or pneumatic retinopexy .
Supplemental treatments are laser treatments or cryotherapy .
Scleral buckles are like placing rubber bands around the eye, to place the internal structures in contact with the retina to reattach it. The buckles are not actually rubber, but more sponge-like in composition. Pneumatic retinopexy involves injecting gas or other materials into the vitreous. Since the injected material is lighter than vitreous, it floats and pushes the retina from inside-out to reattach itself. This involves good patient cooperation, as a stationery head position needs to be maintained during recovery.