Horseshoe tear refers to a type of retinal tear that is characterized by a full-thickness break in the neurosensory retina. This type of tear occurs when the jelly-like fluid within the eye (vitreous) pulls away a flap of the sensory retina, usually near the edge of the retina where the force of the vitreous is stronger. The most common cause of horseshoe tears is the posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which occurs when the vitreous adheres to the retina and then gradually detaches.
Horseshoe tears are most commonly found in the superotemporal quadrant of the retina, followed by the superonasal quadrant. These tears are more common in middle-aged and young individuals. Risk factors for horseshoe tears include increasing age, nearsightedness, lattice degeneration, trauma, and a family history of retinal tears or detachments.
Symptoms of horseshoe tears may include floaters, flashes of light (photopsias), increased visual field loss, and sometimes amaurosis (complete blindness in one eye). Treatment for horseshoe tears typically involves surgical procedures such as vitrectomy with or without a posterior capsule peel, retinal detachment repairs, or laser retinopexy.
