Retinal Tear: Symptoms, Causes, and Effective Laser Treatments at Asia Pacific Eye Centre

What Are Retinal Tears?

Retinal tears occur when part of the retina separates from the outer layers of the eye. If not treated promptly, retinal tears may lead to retinal detachment, a medical emergency that can cause rapid loss of vision.

At Asia Pacific Eye Centre, we provide laser treatment to effectively seal retinal tears and prevent further vision loss.

Retinal Tear Symptoms

Retinal tears are mostly painless. Some symptoms include:

Early detection and treatment can help to prevent retinal tears from getting worse.

Risk Factors

  • Family history of retinal detachment
  • Severe myopia
  • Previous eye injuries
  • Age (over 40 years old)

How Retinal Tears Are Diagnosed

At Asia Pacific Eye Centre, our specialists use diagnostic techniques to detect retinal tears accurately:

  • Dilated Eye Exam – A comprehensive eye examination to assess the retina’s health.

  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) – A non-invasive imaging test to detect retinal abnormalities.

  • Fundus Photography – High-resolution imaging of the retina for detailed evaluation.

  • Fluorescein Angiography – A dye-based test to examine retinal blood flow and detect complications.

Laser Treatment for Retinal Tears

At Asia Pacific Eye Centre, we use laser photocoagulation, a safe and effective procedure to treat retinal tears. Key benefits include:

  • Minimally invasive – No incisions or sutures are needed.

  • Quick and painless – The procedure is completed in under 30 minutes with minimal discomfort.

  • Prevents retinal detachment – Effectively seals the tear to prevent further complications.

  • Fast recovery – Most patients resume normal activities within a few days.

Our Retinal Conditions Specialist

Dr. Wong Chee Wai

MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (OPHTH), FAMS (Ophth)
MCI (Singapore), PHD (UTRECHT)
Senior Consultant | Eye Surgeon
Sub-specialties: Retinal Conditions, Cataracts
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese

Fellowship Trained Specialist


Former Consultant at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)


Former Clinical Lead of the High Myopia Clinic at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)


Started the Surgical Retina Service at Sengkang Hospital
Former Assistant Professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School

Dr Wong obtained his Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the National University of Singapore. He completed his Basic and Advanced Specialist Training in Ophthalmology at the Singapore National Eye Centre, obtaining his Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology) qualification from NUS in 2012.

In 2015, he received his specialist accreditation as a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS) as the top candidate in the Specialist Exit examination in Ophthalmology, where he was awarded 3 gold medals for Best Candidate in Cornea and Refractive, Ethics as well as Neuro-ophthalmology. After having obtained his specialist accreditation, he also successfully completed his Vitreoretinal subspecialty fellowship training for both Medical and Surgical Retina at the Singapore National Eye Centre

Dr Wong is also an accomplished researcher, having published more than 60 research articles and holds several research grants in the field of myopia and ocular drug delivery.

Dr Wong has been awarded multiple accolades for his research work, including travel grants, prizes at international ophthalmology conferences and the SingHealth Publish Award in 2015.  He also completed the Master’s in Clinical Investigation with NUS in 2015, a PhD in ocular drug delivery with Utrecht University in 2021.

Dr Wong has contributed significantly to training and education in the ophthalmology field, including serving as committee member in the 2nd Asia Pacific Tele-Ophthalmology Society Congress in 2018, 32nd Congress of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in 2017, the 29th Singapore-Malaysia joint meeting in Ophthalmology in 2014 and the Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Meeting in 2013. He has been invited to present lectures at international and regional meetings in India, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.  He has also served as Instructor for a course on retina conditions at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual meeting in 2016, and

He also served as SNEC’s deputy director of undergraduate education since 2018 and was the program director of the Duke NUS graduate medical school’s ophthalmology program.

Dr Wong is also actively involved in the local ophthalmology community as a committee member of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists since 2013, and the Chair of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmologists Young Ophthalmologist’s Chapter since January 2020. As part of an ongoing effort to deliver eyecare to underprivileged communities in Singapore, Chee Wai and his team have screened more than 3000 low income elderly patients, performed free cataract surgery and helped many of them regain useful vision.  These efforts have received media coverage, awards and recognition from national agencies. He has also been invited to international and regional meetings to speak on Singapore’s community outreach efforts and experience in building the Young Ophthalmologists community. His efforts have been recognized at the regional level, having been appointed to the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology’s Young Ophthalmology Standing Committee in September 2020. He is also an active member of the Asia Pacific Young Ophthalmologists, a group comprising of YO leaders from the Asia Pacific Region.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Symptoms include sudden floaters, flashes of light, blurred vision, and shadowed vision. Seek medical attention if you experience any of these signs.

An eye specialist will perform a dilated eye exam, OCT imaging, and other diagnostic tests to confirm a retinal tear.

Laser treatment is generally well-tolerated with minimal discomfort. Some patients may feel mild warmth or pressure during the procedure.

Most patients recover within a few days and can return to normal activities, but follow-up visits are necessary to ensure proper healing.

Yes. If left untreated, a retinal tear can progress to retinal detachment, leading to severe vision loss or blindness.

Book a Consultation

Get an eye checkup with us now!

Interested to fix a consult with our eye specialist? Get in touch with us!

Book a Consultation

Get an eye checkup with us now!

Interested to fix a consult with our eye specialist? Get in touch with us!