\n<\/p>\n
As for the causes, severe myopia tops the list. In fact, those with high myopia run a five-to-six times higher risk of developing it than those with low myopia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But why don\u2019t more people suffer from retinal detachment since Singapore is regarded as the myopia capital of the world? \u201cAlthough myopia is a known risk factor, most Singaporeans have low to moderate myopia, which carries a much lower risk than pathological or very high myopia,\u201d explained Dr Thomas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There have been cases where retinal detachment can also be a sign of permanent age-related vision loss known as glaucoma. Glaucoma and retinal detachment coexist as they share risk factors such as severe myopia, eyeball structural changes and age.<\/p>\n
Speaking of age, said Dr Thomas, the years are certainly not kind on the eyes. The vitreous humour naturally liquefies and may separate from the retina in a process known as posterior vitreous detachment, he explained. \u201cIf the vitreous humour pulls strongly on the retina, it can create a tear, which may then lead to retinal detachment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other contributing causes include eye trauma, previous eye surgery, a history of retinal detachment in the other eye, and a family history of the condition, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And sometimes, even innocuous actions such as \u201cfrequent eye rubbing could cause retinal tears, which if not treated promptly, will progress to a retinal detachment requiring major surgery\u201d, cautioned Dr Zhao.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n