ABSTRACT
Strictly speaking, retinal detachment is a misnomer. The term denotes separation of the neuroepithelium from the pigment epithelium. The most common cause of retinal detachment is the formation of a 'break' or full-thickness discontinuity in the neuroepithelium, which allows the fluid from the vitreous cavity into the subretinal space via the break, creating rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs). Most retinal tears occur in association with spontaneous posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) by the operation of dynamic vitreous traction. This term denotes the transmission of rotational energy to the vitreous gel through the coats of the eye. RRD may be produced without PVD by atrophic retinal holes often in young myopic patients or by retinal dialysis at the ora serrata. Retinal tear formation is usually associated with the release of retinal pigment epithelial cells into the vitreous cavity. The presence of pigment cells in the retrolental gel 14 in a phakic eye strongly implies the presence of a retinal break.
