Risk Factors

Retinal detachment is a serious eye problem affecting 1 out of every 10,000 people in the U.S. Unfortunately, the tears and holes in the retina that lead to detachment are part of the aging process – and no one has yet found a cure for aging. However, we do know that you are at greater risk of suffering from retinal tears, holes and detachment if:

-You are extremely near-sighted.

-You have suffered a previous detachment.

-Your family has a history of retinal problems.

-You have had cataract surgery.

If you fall into any of these categories, your eye doctor may suggest regular eye exams to catch problems before they lead to limited vision. While retinal detachments primarily afflict middle-aged and older people, these detachments can happen at any age.