Retinal detachment —
act within hours.
Not days.
Floaters, flashes, a curtain crossing your vision — these aren't symptoms to watch for a day or two. They're signs of a detaching retina. Here's what happens next, and why timing is everything.
Most people who experience a retinal detachment describe the warning signs as strange but not alarming — a few more floaters than usual, some odd flickers of light. Then hours later, a shadow creeps across their vision and they can't see out of part of their eye. By then, they've already lost time they didn't have.
This guide is published by Agaaz Ophthalmics — an Indian manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical products including RETSIL silicone oil, intraocular lenses, and intracameral antibiotics, exported to hospitals and surgeons across 15 countries. Understanding retinal detachment matters to us because our products are used in the surgeries that repair it.
Retinal detachment is genuinely different from most eye problems. It doesn't cause pain. There are no obvious outward signs. And the window between "this is salvageable with near-perfect vision" and "this will leave permanent damage" is measured in hours, not days. Understanding what's happening — and why speed matters — is potentially the difference between recovering your sight and not.
If you have symptoms right now: Do not finish reading this article first. Go to an emergency eye unit or ophthalmology emergency room immediately. Retinal detachment can be repaired — but not if you wait. The rest of this guide will be here when you come back.
The Warning Signs — Know All Four
The classic teaching is a triad: floaters, flashes, visual field loss. But there's a fourth symptom that often appears first — and it's the one most people dismiss.
The high-risk patient profile: High myopia (short-sight > -5.00 dioptres) is the single biggest risk factor — high myopia significantly increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration. Others at higher risk: over 50, previous retinal detachment in either eye, recent cataract surgery, family history, or prior eye trauma. If you are in this group, any new floaters or flashes should trigger a same-day dilated eye exam, not a wait-and-see approach.
What's Actually Happening Inside the Eye
The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye — roughly the thickness of a sheet of paper, but containing millions of photoreceptors. It converts light into electrical signals that the brain reads as vision.
In a healthy eye, the retina is pressed against the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) — a layer of cells that supplies it with oxygen and nutrients. When the retina detaches, it lifts away from this supply layer. The photoreceptors start dying within hours. Retinal detachment invariably leads to decreased vision — the detached retina is separated from its oxygen and nutrient supply.
Who Gets Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is not random. Certain people are significantly more likely to experience it — and knowing you are in a high-risk group is medically actionable, because regular dilated eye exams can detect peripheral retinal tears before they progress to detachment.
| Risk Factor | Why It Matters | Relative Risk |
|---|---|---|
| High myopia (> −5.00D) | Longer axial length = thinner, more stretched peripheral retina. More likely to develop lattice degeneration and retinal tears. | High |
| Age over 50 | Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) — the vitreous gel naturally separates from the retina — is near-universal over 70. PVD can pull and tear the retina during separation. | Moderate–High |
| Previous retinal detachment | Fellow eye risk increases significantly. Approx. 10–15% of patients with unilateral RRD develop contralateral detachment. | High |
| Cataract surgery (pseudophakia) | Phakic removal alters vitreous dynamics. Risk is higher in highly myopic pseudophakic patients. | Moderate |
| Eye trauma | Blunt trauma can cause peripheral retinal tears, dialyses, or vitreous traction sufficient to detach the retina. | Moderate |
| Diabetic retinopathy | Tractional retinal detachment — fibrovascular membranes on the retinal surface contract and pull the retina. Different mechanism from rhegmatogenous RD. | High (tractional) |
| Family history | Genetic predisposition to peripheral retinal thinning, lattice degeneration, and vitreoretinal adhesion patterns. | Low–Moderate |
Retinal detachment across Agaaz's markets: Agaaz Ophthalmics supplies RETSIL silicone oil to vitreoretinal surgeons across India, UAE, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Peru. In India — which performs over 7 million eye surgeries annually — high myopia prevalence makes retinal detachment a significant public health concern. Across Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa) and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia), vitreoretinal surgical capacity is expanding rapidly, with silicone oil tamponade central to complex retinal repair at every level of the health system.
The Three Surgical Approaches
There is no medication for retinal detachment. Surgery is the only treatment. Three main approaches exist — and the choice depends on the type, location, and complexity of the detachment, as well as the surgeon's assessment.
Silicone Oil — Why It's Used and How It Works
When a retinal detachment is too complex for a gas bubble — recurrent detachments, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), giant retinal tears, inferior breaks — surgeons turn to silicone oil. It's been used in vitreoretinal surgery for over 50 years, and for good reason: it provides stable, long-term tamponade that holds the retina in place while it heals.
Physically, silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane) is a transparent, hydrophobic liquid slightly lighter than water. Its high surface tension against water-based fluids means it acts like a very stable bubble inside the eye, maintaining consistent pressure on the retinal surface without dissolving. Unlike gas bubbles (which absorb in 2–8 weeks), silicone oil can be used as a long-term tamponade agent in the treatment of complicated vitreoretinal diseases — maintained for months before surgical removal.
The silicone oil removal surgery
Silicone oil is not permanent. Once the retina has healed and stabilised — typically 3–6 months after insertion — it must be surgically removed. Leaving silicone oil too long causes emulsification (it breaks into tiny droplets), which can then migrate into the trabecular meshwork and cause secondary glaucoma, or deposit on the corneal endothelium causing keratopathy.
The removal procedure (silicone oil-out surgery) is usually straightforward — shorter and less complex than the original vitrectomy. In select cases where the risk of re-detachment on oil removal is too high, long-term silicone oil may be retained with close monitoring.
Recovery — What to Expect
The most important variable: whether the macula was involved. Macula-on detachments (the central area was still attached) treated urgently have an excellent prognosis — most patients recover near-normal central vision. Macula-off detachments (the central retina had detached) have a much less predictable outcome for central vision even after anatomically successful repair. This is the clinical reason why speed from symptom onset to surgery is so critical.
- Gas tamponade (pneumatic/PPV with gas): Face-down or specific head positioning for days to weeks — critical for keeping the gas bubble over the repair site. No flying until the gas dissolves (can take 2–8 weeks depending on gas type). Vision improves gradually as gas absorbs.
- Silicone oil tamponade: No strict positioning requirement (major advantage over gas). Vision with silicone oil in the eye is often usable — many patients see reasonably well through it. Second surgery in 3–6 months to remove the oil.
- Scleral buckle: Reduced activity for 2–4 weeks. May cause temporary diplopia (double vision) as extraocular muscles readjust. Increased myopia is possible. Visual recovery is gradual.
- All approaches: Regular follow-up is essential. The retina continues to settle for months. New glasses prescription should wait until vision is fully stable, usually 3–6 months post-operatively.
"Treatment for retinal detachment works well, especially if the detachment is caught early. In some cases, you may need a second treatment or surgery if your retina detaches again — but treatment is ultimately successful for about 9 out of 10 people."
Agaaz RETSIL — Silicone Oil for Vitreoretinal Surgery
Agaaz Ophthalmics manufactures RETSIL 1000 and RETSIL 5000 silicone oil for vitreoretinal surgery — available to hospitals, surgical centres, and distributors across 15+ countries. Both meet pharmacopoeial standards for intraocular use.
Related Guides from Agaaz Ophthalmics
All clinical guides published on Beyond Vision — the ophthalmic education blog by Agaaz Ophthalmics, India's leading IOL and vitreoretinal products manufacturer.
Agaaz Ophthalmics manufactures RETSIL 1000 cSt and RETSIL 5000 cSt for vitreoretinal surgery — alongside a complete ophthalmic portfolio covering IOLs, OVDs, surgical dyes, and antibiotics. GMP-certified. Exported to 15+ countries from Ahmedabad, India. View full portfolio →
Frequently Asked Questions
The Short Version
- Retinal detachment is an eye emergency. New floaters, flashes, or a shadow across vision = same-day emergency eye care. No exceptions.
- Time matters more here than in almost any other eye condition. Macula-on detachments treated urgently preserve central vision. Macula-off detachments have permanently worse outcomes regardless of how good the surgery is.
- Surgery works — 90% success rate. But "success" means anatomical reattachment. Vision recovery depends on how much the retina was stressed and for how long.
- Three surgical options: vitrectomy (most versatile), scleral buckle (excellent for younger/phakic patients), pneumatic retinopexy (office-based, specific cases only).
- Silicone oil is the tamponade of choice for complex cases. It provides stable, long-term hold for months — unlike gas, which dissolves in weeks. Requires a second removal surgery at 3–6 months.
- 1000 vs 5000 cSt: Both RETSIL grades serve different clinical scenarios. 1000 cSt for standard cases; 5000 cSt for inferior breaks, PVR, and recurrent detachment.
- High myopia is the biggest modifiable awareness factor. If you are highly myopic, you need annual dilated eye exams and you need to know what floaters and flashes mean.
Clinical References
- Blair K, Czyz CN. Retinal Detachment. StatPearls. 2024. NCBI →
- Lin JB, Narayanan R et al. Retinal detachment. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2024;10(1):18. PubMed 38485969 →
- Pastor JC, Capeáns C et al. Complications associated with silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2022. PubMed 32930501 →
- National Eye Institute. Retinal Detachment — Patient Information. nei.nih.gov →
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Detached Retina. Updated December 2025. aao.org →
- D'Amico DJ. Primary retinal detachment. NEJM. 2008;359(22):2346–2354.
- Levy S, Griffin B. Retinal detachment. InnovAiT. 2025. Sagepub →
- Agaaz Ophthalmics. RETSIL 1000 and 5000 cSt Silicone Oil — Technical Specifications, 2026.
Patient education only. Not a substitute for emergency medical care. If you have symptoms of retinal detachment, seek emergency eye care immediately — do not delay. Product information available on request from Agaaz Ophthalmics.
Retinal detachment —
act within hours.
Not days.
Floaters, flashes, a curtain crossing your vision — these aren't symptoms to watch for a day or two. They're signs of a detaching retina. Here's what happens next, and why timing is everything.
Most people who experience a retinal detachment describe the warning signs as strange but not alarming — a few more floaters than usual, some odd flickers of light. Then hours later, a shadow creeps across their vision and they can't see out of part of their eye. By then, they've already lost time they didn't have.
This guide is published by Agaaz Ophthalmics — an Indian manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical products including RETSIL silicone oil, intraocular lenses, and intracameral antibiotics, exported to hospitals and surgeons across 15 countries. Understanding retinal detachment matters to us because our products are used in the surgeries that repair it.
Retinal detachment is genuinely different from most eye problems. It doesn't cause pain. There are no obvious outward signs. And the window between "this is salvageable with near-perfect vision" and "this will leave permanent damage" is measured in hours, not days. Understanding what's happening — and why speed matters — is potentially the difference between recovering your sight and not.
If you have symptoms right now: Do not finish reading this article first. Go to an emergency eye unit or ophthalmology emergency room immediately. Retinal detachment can be repaired — but not if you wait. The rest of this guide will be here when you come back.
The Warning Signs — Know All Four
The classic teaching is a triad: floaters, flashes, visual field loss. But there's a fourth symptom that often appears first — and it's the one most people dismiss.
The high-risk patient profile: High myopia (short-sight > -5.00 dioptres) is the single biggest risk factor — high myopia significantly increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration. Others at higher risk: over 50, previous retinal detachment in either eye, recent cataract surgery, family history, or prior eye trauma. If you are in this group, any new floaters or flashes should trigger a same-day dilated eye exam, not a wait-and-see approach.
What's Actually Happening Inside the Eye
The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye — roughly the thickness of a sheet of paper, but containing millions of photoreceptors. It converts light into electrical signals that the brain reads as vision.
In a healthy eye, the retina is pressed against the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) — a layer of cells that supplies it with oxygen and nutrients. When the retina detaches, it lifts away from this supply layer. The photoreceptors start dying within hours. Retinal detachment invariably leads to decreased vision — the detached retina is separated from its oxygen and nutrient supply.
Who Gets Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is not random. Certain people are significantly more likely to experience it — and knowing you are in a high-risk group is medically actionable, because regular dilated eye exams can detect peripheral retinal tears before they progress to detachment.
| Risk Factor | Why It Matters | Relative Risk |
|---|---|---|
| High myopia (> −5.00D) | Longer axial length = thinner, more stretched peripheral retina. More likely to develop lattice degeneration and retinal tears. | High |
| Age over 50 | Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) — the vitreous gel naturally separates from the retina — is near-universal over 70. PVD can pull and tear the retina during separation. | Moderate–High |
| Previous retinal detachment | Fellow eye risk increases significantly. Approx. 10–15% of patients with unilateral RRD develop contralateral detachment. | High |
| Cataract surgery (pseudophakia) | Phakic removal alters vitreous dynamics. Risk is higher in highly myopic pseudophakic patients. | Moderate |
| Eye trauma | Blunt trauma can cause peripheral retinal tears, dialyses, or vitreous traction sufficient to detach the retina. | Moderate |
| Diabetic retinopathy | Tractional retinal detachment — fibrovascular membranes on the retinal surface contract and pull the retina. Different mechanism from rhegmatogenous RD. | High (tractional) |
| Family history | Genetic predisposition to peripheral retinal thinning, lattice degeneration, and vitreoretinal adhesion patterns. | Low–Moderate |
Retinal detachment across Agaaz's markets: Agaaz Ophthalmics supplies RETSIL silicone oil to vitreoretinal surgeons across India, UAE, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Peru. In India — which performs over 7 million eye surgeries annually — high myopia prevalence makes retinal detachment a significant public health concern. Across Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa) and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia), vitreoretinal surgical capacity is expanding rapidly, with silicone oil tamponade central to complex retinal repair at every level of the health system.
The Three Surgical Approaches
There is no medication for retinal detachment. Surgery is the only treatment. Three main approaches exist — and the choice depends on the type, location, and complexity of the detachment, as well as the surgeon's assessment.
Silicone Oil — Why It's Used and How It Works
When a retinal detachment is too complex for a gas bubble — recurrent detachments, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), giant retinal tears, inferior breaks — surgeons turn to silicone oil. It's been used in vitreoretinal surgery for over 50 years, and for good reason: it provides stable, long-term tamponade that holds the retina in place while it heals.
Physically, silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane) is a transparent, hydrophobic liquid slightly lighter than water. Its high surface tension against water-based fluids means it acts like a very stable bubble inside the eye, maintaining consistent pressure on the retinal surface without dissolving. Unlike gas bubbles (which absorb in 2–8 weeks), silicone oil can be used as a long-term tamponade agent in the treatment of complicated vitreoretinal diseases — maintained for months before surgical removal.
The silicone oil removal surgery
Silicone oil is not permanent. Once the retina has healed and stabilised — typically 3–6 months after insertion — it must be surgically removed. Leaving silicone oil too long causes emulsification (it breaks into tiny droplets), which can then migrate into the trabecular meshwork and cause secondary glaucoma, or deposit on the corneal endothelium causing keratopathy.
The removal procedure (silicone oil-out surgery) is usually straightforward — shorter and less complex than the original vitrectomy. In select cases where the risk of re-detachment on oil removal is too high, long-term silicone oil may be retained with close monitoring.
Recovery — What to Expect
The most important variable: whether the macula was involved. Macula-on detachments (the central area was still attached) treated urgently have an excellent prognosis — most patients recover near-normal central vision. Macula-off detachments (the central retina had detached) have a much less predictable outcome for central vision even after anatomically successful repair. This is the clinical reason why speed from symptom onset to surgery is so critical.
- Gas tamponade (pneumatic/PPV with gas): Face-down or specific head positioning for days to weeks — critical for keeping the gas bubble over the repair site. No flying until the gas dissolves (can take 2–8 weeks depending on gas type). Vision improves gradually as gas absorbs.
- Silicone oil tamponade: No strict positioning requirement (major advantage over gas). Vision with silicone oil in the eye is often usable — many patients see reasonably well through it. Second surgery in 3–6 months to remove the oil.
- Scleral buckle: Reduced activity for 2–4 weeks. May cause temporary diplopia (double vision) as extraocular muscles readjust. Increased myopia is possible. Visual recovery is gradual.
- All approaches: Regular follow-up is essential. The retina continues to settle for months. New glasses prescription should wait until vision is fully stable, usually 3–6 months post-operatively.
"Treatment for retinal detachment works well, especially if the detachment is caught early. In some cases, you may need a second treatment or surgery if your retina detaches again — but treatment is ultimately successful for about 9 out of 10 people."
Agaaz RETSIL — Silicone Oil for Vitreoretinal Surgery
Agaaz Ophthalmics manufactures RETSIL 1000 and RETSIL 5000 silicone oil for vitreoretinal surgery — available to hospitals, surgical centres, and distributors across 15+ countries. Both meet pharmacopoeial standards for intraocular use.
Related Guides from Agaaz Ophthalmics
All clinical guides published on Beyond Vision — the ophthalmic education blog by Agaaz Ophthalmics, India's leading IOL and vitreoretinal products manufacturer.
Agaaz Ophthalmics manufactures RETSIL 1000 cSt and RETSIL 5000 cSt for vitreoretinal surgery — alongside a complete ophthalmic portfolio covering IOLs, OVDs, surgical dyes, and antibiotics. GMP-certified. Exported to 15+ countries from Ahmedabad, India. View full portfolio →
Frequently Asked Questions
The Short Version
- Retinal detachment is an eye emergency. New floaters, flashes, or a shadow across vision = same-day emergency eye care. No exceptions.
- Time matters more here than in almost any other eye condition. Macula-on detachments treated urgently preserve central vision. Macula-off detachments have permanently worse outcomes regardless of how good the surgery is.
- Surgery works — 90% success rate. But "success" means anatomical reattachment. Vision recovery depends on how much the retina was stressed and for how long.
- Three surgical options: vitrectomy (most versatile), scleral buckle (excellent for younger/phakic patients), pneumatic retinopexy (office-based, specific cases only).
- Silicone oil is the tamponade of choice for complex cases. It provides stable, long-term hold for months — unlike gas, which dissolves in weeks. Requires a second removal surgery at 3–6 months.
- 1000 vs 5000 cSt: Both RETSIL grades serve different clinical scenarios. 1000 cSt for standard cases; 5000 cSt for inferior breaks, PVR, and recurrent detachment.
- High myopia is the biggest modifiable awareness factor. If you are highly myopic, you need annual dilated eye exams and you need to know what floaters and flashes mean.
Clinical References
- Blair K, Czyz CN. Retinal Detachment. StatPearls. 2024. NCBI →
- Lin JB, Narayanan R et al. Retinal detachment. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2024;10(1):18. PubMed 38485969 →
- Pastor JC, Capeáns C et al. Complications associated with silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2022. PubMed 32930501 →
- National Eye Institute. Retinal Detachment — Patient Information. nei.nih.gov →
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Detached Retina. Updated December 2025. aao.org →
- D'Amico DJ. Primary retinal detachment. NEJM. 2008;359(22):2346–2354.
- Levy S, Griffin B. Retinal detachment. InnovAiT. 2025. Sagepub →
- Agaaz Ophthalmics. RETSIL 1000 and 5000 cSt Silicone Oil — Technical Specifications, 2026.
Patient education only. Not a substitute for emergency medical care. If you have symptoms of retinal detachment, seek emergency eye care immediately — do not delay. Product information available on request from Agaaz Ophthalmics.
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Retinal Detachment: Symptoms, Surgery & Silicone Oil Guide