Detached and Torn Retina A detached retina is a condition of the eye which occurs when the retina pulls away from its normal position. When detached, the retina does not work properly and vision is blurred. This is a serious condition and can lead to blindness if untreated. A retinal detachment can be caused when the vitreous, which is the clear gel-like substance which fills the eye, pulls away from its attachment to the retina. In most cases the vitreous separates without causing any problems, however, it sometimes pulls hard enough to create one or more tears in the retina and allows fluid to pass through this tear. There is a greater risk of retinal detachment if one of the following pre-existing conditions is present: nearsightedness, previous cataract surgery, glaucoma, severe trauma to the eye, previous retinal detachments, or a family history of retinal detachments. Treatment Treatment for retinal tears includes the use of laser surgery or cryotherapy (freezing) to seal the retinal tear and halt fluid leakage. This procedure can often be performed in your ophthalmologist's office. In most cases, retinal detachments require surgery to reattach the retina back into its proper position and roughly 90% of these cases can be successfully repaired. However, in some cases more than one operation may be necessary.  Back