Case Study- Retina Detachment

1. C A S S I D Y W E N D L E R
CASE STUDY: RETINAL
DETACHMENT

2. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PATIENT
• 48-year-old man, Robert, came into the
Optometrist for his regular eye exam.
Complained that he has has sudden
vision loss in OS. He can also see
floaters and flashes of light. He also has
said he has been sensitive to light
recently. OS pupil looks more dilated
than the other. Redness around the
cornea is also recorded.

3. What diagnosis would your
initial diagnosis be for
Robert?

4. What tests would you run on
Robert?

5. DIAGNOSIS: RETINAL
DETACHMENT
• Diagnosis is based on patient’s retinal photos and
examination of slit lamp instrument
• Retinal Optomap photos were taken OU which takes
a photo of the back of the eye
• p-hydroxyamphetamine drops were placed OU to
dilate pupils

6. DIAGNOSIS: RETINAL
DETACHMENT
• Optical Coherence Tomography scan was taken
to observe structural layers of the back of the
eye
• Visual Acuities were obtained to verify vision
loss by using an occluder.
• Rhegmatongenous tear detachment OS

7. WHAT IS A RETINAL DETACHMENT?
• When the tissue at the back of the eye pulls
away form the retina
• This layer provides your necessary blood
vessels for oxygen and nourishment
• Obtains your macula, which is connected by
the optic nerve to provide vision
• This creates a fluid-filled space between the
neural retina and retinal pigmented
epithelium

10. GLUTAMATE
• Non- essential amino acid naturally occurring in the L- form
• Most common neurotransmitter in the CNS
• Glutamate is a neurotransmitter of the vertical pathways
though the retina
• Photoreceptors (sensory structure that responds to light) in
retina obtain rods and cones
• Rods- responsible for vision at low light levels
• Cones- responsible for color and sharp central vision
• Excitatory amino acid transmits signals to next order neuron
until it reaches the retina
• Studies are being done if the amino acid, aspartate, as
another possible retinal neurotransmitter

11. TREATMENT
• Referral to an Ophthalmologist
• Surgery including;
• Photocoagulation (laser)
• Cryopexy (freezing probe)
• Vitrectomy (tiny incision in the sclera) if necessary
• A tiny synthetic band is placed to the surface of the
eyeball to push the wall of the eye towards the
detached retina
• 90% of the retinal detachment can be treated
• Prescribed drops to heal

12. REFERENCES
• Facts About Retinal Detachment. (n.d.). Retrieved
December 15, 2016, from
https://nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/retinaldetach
• Fisher, S., Lewis, G., & Linberg, K. (n.d.). Cellular
Remodeling in Mammalian Retina Induced by Retinal
Detachment. Retrieved December 15, 2016, from
http://webvision.med.utah.edu/
• Kolb, H. (n.d.). Neurotransmitters in the Retina. Retrieved
December 15, 2016, from http://webvision.med.utah.edu/
• The PubChem Project. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15,
2016, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/