Retinal detachment and tears
Also known as: Retinal detachments or breaks, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
A retinal detachment lifts or pulls the retina, which is the light-sensing tissue in the back of the eye, from its normal position. This condition is more common in people over age 40, and risk factors include extreme nearsightedness, a family history of retinal detachment, cataract surgery, other eye disorders, or an eye injury. Symptoms include an increase in floaters, light flashes in the eye, or the appearance of a curtain over the field of vision. A retinal detachment is a medical emergency that can cause permanent vision loss if not promptly treated with surgery.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
The retina is a layer of tissue in the back of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain. It provides the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A retinal detachment lifts or pulls the retina from its normal position. It can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over age 40. It affects men more than women and whites more than African Americans. A retinal detachment is also more likely to occur in people who:
- Are extremely nearsighted
- Have had a retinal detachment in the other eye
- Have a family history of retinal detachment
- Have had cataract surgery
- Have other eye diseases or disorders
- Have had an eye injury
Symptoms include an increase in the number of floaters, which are little "cobwebs" or specks that float about in your field of vision, and/or light flashes in the eye. It may also seem like there is a "curtain" over your field of vision.
A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If not promptly treated, it can cause permanent vision loss. If you have any symptoms, see an eye care professional immediately. Treatment includes different types of surgery.
NIH: National Eye Institute
Next to it in ICD-10
- H25Age-related cataract
- H26Other specified cataracts
- H28Cataract in other diseases
- H40Glaucoma or glaucoma suspect, unspecified
- H42Glaucoma in other diseases
- H46Other specified optic neuritis
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Retinal detachment and tears?
H33 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Retinal detachment and tears?
9B73.Z: Retinal detachments or breaks, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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