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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

There's no way to prevent retinal detachment. However, being aware of the warning signs of a detached retina — an increased number of floaters, bright flashes of light, or a shadow or curtain that seems to fall across your visual field — could help save your vision. If you notice any of the warning signs of retinal detachment, particularly if you're over age 40, you or a family member has had a detached retina, or you're extremely nearsighted, contact your ophthalmologist immediately.

References
  1. Retinal detachment. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/index.asp. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
  2. Wilkinson CP. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby, Inc.; 2004:982-988.
  3. Arroyo JG. Retinal tear and detachment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
  4. Kang HK, et al. Management of retinal detachment: A guide for non-ophthalmologists. British Medical Journal. 2008;336:1235-1240.
  5. Posterior vitreous detachment, retinal breaks, and lattice degeneration. San Francisco, Ca.: American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/asset.axd?id=01c2221b-554a-4ebb-bff9-dd8e17f84008. Accessed Oct. 3, 2008.
  6. Fletcher EC, et al. Retina. In: Riordan-Eva P, et al. Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology. 17th ed. United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3088798. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.

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Nov. 6, 2008

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