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Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffUnless you undergo prompt surgery, retinal detachment will cause you to lose vision in the portion of your field of vision that corresponds to the detached part of the retina. Losing part of your vision can greatly change your lifestyle — affecting your ability to drive, read and do many other things you're accustomed to doing. Yet there are ways to cope with impaired vision:
- Check into transportation. Investigate vans and shuttles, volunteer driving networks, or ride shares available in your area for people with impaired vision.
- Get special glasses. Optimize the vision you have with glasses that are specifically prescribed for the effects of retinal detachment. Keep an extra pair of glasses in the car.
- Brighten your home. Have proper light in your home for reading and other activities.
- Make your home safer. Eliminate throw rugs and other tripping hazards within your home.
- Enlist the help of others. Tell friends and family members about your vision problems so that they can help you.
- Talk to others with impaired vision. Take advantage of online networks, support groups and resources for people with impaired vision.
- Retinal detachment. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/index.asp. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
- Wilkinson CP. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby, Inc.; 2004:982-988.
- Arroyo JG. Retinal tear and detachment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
- Kang HK, et al. Management of retinal detachment: A guide for non-ophthalmologists. British Medical Journal. 2008;336:1235-1240.
- Posterior vitreous detachment, retinal breaks, and lattice degeneration. San Francisco, Ca.: American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/asset.axd?id=01c2221b-554a-4ebb-bff9-dd8e17f84008. Accessed Oct. 3, 2008.
- Fletcher EC, et al. Retina. In: Riordan-Eva P, et al. Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology. 17th ed. United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3088798. Accessed Oct. 1, 2008.
