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The retina is a thin membrane made up of nerve cells that line the back 60% of your eyeball. The nerve cells in the retina detect light and send signals to the brain about what your eye sees. The retina consists of two layers that line the back portion of the eye. The sensory retina contains nerve cells that process visual information and send it to the brain. In a normal retina, the two layers lie in contact with each other. Retinal detachment occurs when the sensory retina becomes separated from the retinal pigment epithelium or RPE and the wall of the eye. Fluid from the eye flows into the space between the two layers, further separating them. Retinal detachment most often results from posterior vitreous detachment, a harmless condition that commonly affects older adults. Injury to the eye, a blow to the head, eye disease, and conditions such as diabetes can lead to retinal detachment at any age. Tears or holes in the retina form which may lead to retinal detachment by allowing fluid from the middle of the eye to collect under the retina. Traction on the retin