Eye diseases among Latinos are getting more prevalent. According to the National Institutes of Health, Hispanic Americans have a higher risk of developing vision problems like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. These conditions can lead to serious repercussions like vision loss. In fact, the US Latino community has one of the highest rates of blindness in the country.

Yet these aren't the only eye conditions you're at risk of developing. Aside from glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, you also need to be wary of retinal detachment. Read more to know about the disease and how you can prevent it.

What is retinal detachment?

This eye condition occurs when the retina, or the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye, is pulled away from its normal position. It's most commonly caused by aging and eye injury. Symptoms of retinal detachment include a sudden increase of floaters (small dark spots that you see floating across your vision), flashes of light, and a dark shadow on the sides or in the middle of your vision.

While anyone can get retinal detachment, you are at a higher risk if (1) other members of your family experienced the same condition, (2) you have extreme nearsightedness, or (3) you have a history of eye surgery. Retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.

Treatment

Treatment for this condition will vary depending on the severity of the detachment. Freeze treatment, or cryopexy, uses a medical laser to seal minor tears or breaks in the retina. More serious detachments require surgery to move the retina back into place. However, Medical News Today reports that retinal detachment surgery among Latinos tends to be less successful. Compared with the results of white patients, they're likely to experience worse vision after the procedure. Researchers believe their genetics may make it more likely for their eyes to inflame and develop scar tissue, which can hinder the healing process and lead to the most common cause of failure for retinal detachment surgery: proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Ultimately, it's clear these procedures aren't adjusted to take other ethnicities into account. Our previous article on understanding the health of Hispanics cited the need to provide culturally appropriate health care among the community in the context of heart health, and the same could be said about Latinos' eye health. Given that healthcare professionals still need to conduct research that can improve the outcomes of retinal detachment surgery for other ethnicities, Latinos may want to be proactive and prevent the condition in the first place.

Prevention

The first step you can take to prevent existing retinal tears from worsening-or avoid retinal detachment altogether-is to get regular eye exams. That way, your optometrist can identify symptoms early and treat them as soon as possible without resorting to surgery. On a daily basis, the best thing you can do on your end is to wear protective eyewear like sunglasses and goggles in activities that put your eyes at risk. Two such activities are sports and projects that require the use of power tools. A direct blow from a sports ball or bits of metal and wood entering your eyes can both cause retinal detachment.

If you have an active lifestyle, it's best to use dedicated sports sunglasses. The sunglasses from Oakley are a great place to start, as the company's patented O-Matter technology uses nylon for enhanced durability that can withstand hits from sports paraphernalia. Its wraparound sunglasses, like the EVZero Blades and Eye Jacket Redux, can also shield your eyes on all sides. Using protective eyewear is also a good practice when using power tools. For this, you may want to try the safety goggles from Bolle Safety. These use trademarked Wave technology to ensure an optimized fit while still providing visual clarity. That way, models like the Universal Goggle fit securely to block sharp particles from entering the eyes without hindering your vision.

Vulnerability to eye conditions can worsen over time if not addressed early. Being knowledgeable about issues like retinal detachment and how to prevent them can help you preserve your eyesight for longer, especially if treatment plans don't work in your favor as a Latino.