Retinal detachment

Retinal Detachment Care in Grand Rapids, MI

Retinal detachment is an eye emergency that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated quickly. Residents of Grand Rapids, MI have access to several high-quality eye care centers and retinal specialists through Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health. Understanding the signs, causes, and treatment options can help you protect your sight.

What Is the Retina?

The retina is the innermost layer at the back of your eye. It contains light-sensitive cells called rods and cones that detect:

Shape
Color
Pattern and fine detail

The retina sits on top of a blood vessel–rich layer called the choroid, which supplies oxygen and nutrients. Inside the eye, the retina is supported by a clear, jelly-like substance called the vitreous, which fills the space behind the lens.

Nerve fibers from the retina bundle together to form the optic nerve, which sends visual information to your brain so you can see.

What Is Retinal Detachment?

Retinal detachment happens when the retina pulls away from the choroid, the layer that provides its blood supply. Once detached, the retina can no longer function normally and vision in that area is lost.

In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, retinal detachment is considered a true medical emergency. Prompt diagnosis and surgery at a local eye hospital or retina clinic give you the best chance of saving your vision.

Causes of Retinal Detachment

The most common cause of retinal detachment is age-related changes in the vitreous gel. As we age, the vitreous can:

Shrink and pull on the retina
Tear the retina at a weak spot
Allow fluid to seep under the retina through the tear or hole

When fluid collects under the retina, it separates the retina from the choroid and causes a detachment.

Other causes include:

Eye injury or trauma
- Sports injuries (e.g., hockey, basketball)
- Motor vehicle accidents (a concern in icy West Michigan winters)
- Workplace injuries (especially in manufacturing or construction)
Advanced diabetic eye disease
Severe inflammation inside the eye

While eye trauma is a less common cause overall, it is still an important risk in active communities like Grand Rapids, where outdoor sports and winter activities are common.

Who Is at Higher Risk in Grand Rapids?

You may be at increased risk of retinal detachment if you:

Are nearsighted (myopic), especially moderate to high myopia
Have had cataract surgery
Have had a severe eye injury in the past
Have a family history of retinal detachment
Have had a previous retinal tear or detachment in the other eye
Have certain retinal conditions (such as lattice degeneration)
Have long-standing diabetes with diabetic retinopathy (more common in Michigan due to higher rates of diabetes and obesity)

If you fall into any of these groups, regular eye exams with a Grand Rapids optometrist or ophthalmologist are especially important.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment itself is painless, which can make it easy to ignore early warning signs. However, the visual symptoms can be very noticeable.

Common warning signs include:

Flashing lights (photopsia)
- Sudden brief flashes, especially in the side (peripheral) vision
New floaters
- Dark specks, spots, or cobweb-like shapes that move with your vision
- A sudden shower of many new floaters is especially concerning
Blurred or distorted vision
A dark “curtain” or “veil”
- A shadow moving across your vision from any direction
- Often starts in side vision and can progress toward the center
Sudden loss of vision in part of the visual field

If you experience any of these symptoms in Grand Rapids—especially a curtain-like shadow or sudden increase in floaters and flashes—seek immediate care:

Call your eye doctor or retinal specialist urgently
If you cannot reach them quickly, go to the nearest emergency department (e.g., Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)

Prompt treatment can mean the difference between saving and losing your vision.

Diagnosis in Grand Rapids, MI

A retinal detachment is diagnosed by:

Dilated eye exam
Ophthalmoscopy (examining the retina with special lenses)
Sometimes ultrasound of the eye if the view is cloudy (for example, from a cataract or bleeding)

In Grand Rapids, these tests are typically performed by:

An ophthalmologist (medical eye doctor)
A retinal specialist (ophthalmologist with advanced training in diseases of the retina and vitreous)

Surgery for Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment can only be repaired with surgery. There are no drops, pills, or glasses that can reattach a detached retina.

The goal of surgery is to:

Reattach the retina to the back wall of the eye
Seal any tears or holes
Prevent fluid from re-accumulating under the retina

Your retinal surgeon in Grand Rapids will examine your eye and recommend the most appropriate procedure. Common surgical options include:

Pneumatic Retinopexy

Pneumatic retinopexy is often the simplest procedure, but it is not suitable for all detachments.

Steps typically include:

The surgeon injects a gas bubble into the vitreous cavity.
The retinal tear is treated with laser or cryotherapy (freezing).
The gas bubble rises and presses the retina flat against the eye wall.
The laser or freezing treatment helps the retina “stick” back down.

After surgery, it is critical to follow instructions on head positioning so the gas bubble stays in the correct place. The gas bubble gradually dissolves over several days to weeks and is replaced by your eye’s own fluid.

Scleral Buckling

Scleral buckling is another common procedure for retinal detachment.

Key steps:

The retinal tear is treated with cryotherapy.
Fluid under the retina may be drained.
A specially shaped piece of silicone rubber is sutured to the sclera (the white outer wall of the eye).
The silicone “buckle” indents the eye wall, pushing it back toward the retina to help it reattach.

The scleral buckle usually remains in place permanently, unless complications arise.

Vitrectomy Surgery

Vitrectomy is often used for more complex retinal detachments.

During vitrectomy:

Under an operating microscope, the surgeon uses very fine instruments to remove the vitreous gel.
Any retinal tears are treated with laser or cryotherapy.
The eye is filled with either gas or silicone oil to hold the retina in place.
As with pneumatic retinopexy, post-operative head positioning is essential.

If a gas bubble is used, vision will be poor at first but usually improves as the gas is absorbed and replaced by the eye’s natural fluid.
If silicone oil is used, it does not dissolve on its own; a second surgery is usually needed after a few months to remove it.

After Retinal Detachment Surgery

Immediately After the Operation

In Grand Rapids hospitals and surgical centers, you can typically expect:

Your eye will be covered with an eye pad and possibly a protective shield.
You may need to stay in the hospital overnight, occasionally longer, depending on the complexity of the surgery and your overall health.

Recovery Period

During the weeks after surgery, it is normal to experience:

Discomfort or aching in the eye, especially if a scleral buckle was used
Blurry vision
- Vision may take weeks, and sometimes 3–6 months, to improve
Watery eye
A “gritty” feeling on the eye surface if stitches were used

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions, which may include:

Avoid rubbing or pressing on the eye
Wear an eye shield or pad at night to protect the eye while it heals
Use all prescribed eye drops and medications exactly as directed
Avoid vigorous activity (heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, contact sports) for several weeks
Follow head-positioning instructions strictly, especially if gas or oil was used
Keep follow-up appointments with your retinal specialist in Grand Rapids

Contact your surgeon immediately if you experience:

Severe or worsening eye pain
Sudden vision loss
Increasing redness or swelling
Nausea and eye pain (could signal high eye pressure)

Flying and Altitude After Gas Bubble Surgery

If a gas bubble was placed in your eye:

Do not fly or travel to high altitude (e.g., some areas in Northern Michigan or out-of-state trips to mountainous regions) until your surgeon confirms the gas has fully absorbed.
This can take up to four weeks or longer, depending on the type of gas used.

Flying with a gas bubble in the eye can cause dangerous increases in eye pressure and severe vision loss.

Possible Complications of Retinal Detachment Surgery

As with any surgery, there are risks. Complications depend on the specific procedure, but may include:

Cataract formation
- Clouding of the natural lens, especially common after vitrectomy
Glaucoma
- Elevated pressure inside the eye, which can damage the optic nerve
Bleeding (haemorrhage) into the vitreous cavity
Infection inside the eye (rare but serious)
Re-detachment of the retina, requiring another operation
Loss of the eye is extremely rare with modern surgical techniques

In most specialized centers—including retinal surgery programs affiliated with Spectrum Health and other Grand Rapids systems—around 9 out of 10 retinal detachments are successfully repaired with a single operation.
With additional surgery if needed, the final attachment rate is over 95%.

Long-Term Outlook and Vision Recovery

Whether and how much your vision returns depends on:

How long the retina was detached
How large an area was detached
Whether the macula (the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision) was involved

If the macula detaches, full central vision often does not return, even if the surgery is technically successful. That is why rapid treatment in Grand Rapids is crucial when symptoms first appear.

Even with a good surgical outcome, you may still need:

Glasses or contact lenses
Low-vision aids
Ongoing monitoring for the other eye

Local Eye Care Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you have symptoms of retinal detachment or are at higher risk, seek care from:

Your primary care provider (GP) – can help coordinate urgent referrals
Optometrist – for routine eye exams and initial evaluation of symptoms
Ophthalmologist – a medical eye doctor for diagnosis and surgical planning
Retinal surgeon / retina specialist – performs retinal detachment surgery

In Grand Rapids, retinal and eye care services are available through:

Spectrum Health (Corewell Health) ophthalmology and retina clinics
Trinity Health Grand Rapids eye care services
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health ophthalmology
Mercy Health affiliated eye specialists
Independent retina practices and eye clinics across Kent County

For public health information, vision screening programs, and resources for people with vision loss, you can also contact:

Kent County Health Department
Grand Rapids Public Health and community health programs

Key Points for Grand Rapids Residents

Retinal detachment is an eye emergency and can cause permanent vision loss.
Injury to the eye can cause retinal detachment, though this is less common than age-related changes.
People at higher risk include nearsighted individuals, those who have had cataract surgery, and anyone with a severe eye injury or diabetic eye disease.
Retinal detachment is painless, but often causes flashes, floaters, or a curtain-like shadow in your vision.
Surgical options include pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling, and vitrectomy. A scleral buckle usually remains in place indefinitely unless complications occur.
In some cases, the retina re-detaches and needs another operation, but overall success rates exceed 95%.
Retinal detachment can only be repaired with surgery. If left untreated, vision loss is usually permanent.
Seek immediate care from a Grand Rapids eye specialist or emergency department if you notice sudden flashes, new floaters, or any shadow across your vision.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and notice any warning signs, do not wait for symptoms to “clear up.” Prompt evaluation by a local retinal specialist offers the best chance to protect your sight.