Retinal Break

Synonyms

Retinal tears

Definition

A full-thickness defect in the neurosensory retina

Etiology

Retinal breaks are full-thickness breaks that occur secondary to vitreous traction, more frequently at site of strong vitreal adhesion as a consequence of a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), especially at the vitreous base. The posterior edge of the tear is its apex, and the anterior extensions are its base.

Lattice degeneration of the retina is another risk factor for the development of a retinal break. This is a condition in which peripheral retinal thinning is associated with liquefaction and separation of the overlying vitreous, associated with a pronounced vitreoretinal adhesion at the margin. When PVD occurs, traction at the margin of the lattice degeneration can lead to retinal tears.

Blunt trauma can also induce many varieties of retinal breaks, which include horseshoe tears, retinal dialysis, and macular holes. The major mechanism of peripheral break formation is hypothesized to be...