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Simulate retinal detachment (RD) — the separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), one of the most sight-threatening emergencies in ophthalmology. The neurosensory retina depends on the RPE for metabolic support, outer-segment phagocytosis, visual cycle retinoid recycling, and choroidal blood supply diffusion. When subretinal fluid accumulates between the photoreceptor outer segments and the RPE, this intimate metabolic relationship is disrupted — photoreceptors lose their blood supply, outer segments degenerate, and irreversible photoreceptor apoptosis begins within hours to days depending on the extent and location of detachment. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) — the most common type — occurs when a retinal break (horseshoe tear, atrophic hole, or dialysis) allows liquefied vitreous to pass through the break and accumulate in the subretinal space. Tractional retinal detachment (TRD) occurs when proliferative fibrovascular or fibroglial membranes (proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy) mechanically pull the retina away from the RPE without a retinal break. Exudative (serous) retinal detachment results from transudation of fluid through an intact but dysfunctional RPE or choroid — seen in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, central serous chorioretinopathy, choroidal tumours, and severe pre-eclampsia. Model curtain-like visual field obstruction, central vision loss (macula-off vs. macula-on), metamorphopsia, ΔE colour shift, CIE xy chromaticity, and image simulation.

Retinal detachment colour science simulation by Auric Artisan.

Base color
RD type & settings
Detachment extent / severity 50%
Image simulation
Upload JPG/PNG (max 1200 × 1200). See how a scene appears through retinal detachment: rhegmatogenous RD (progressive curtain-like visual field obstruction starting from the periphery corresponding to the detached retinal quadrant — superior detachment causes inferior VF loss and vice versa, progressing toward central vision as detachment extends to the macula), tractional RD (distorted/elevated retinal contour causing metamorphopsia and localised VF constriction), or exudative RD (shifting subretinal fluid causing variable metamorphopsia and central/paracentral scotoma).
Research notes
Macula-on vs. macula-off — the critical distinction: The single most important prognostic factor in retinal detachment is whether the macula (fovea) remains attached (macula-on) or has detached (macula-off). Macula-on RRD is a true surgical emergency — surgery within 24 hours to prevent macular detachment preserves central vision (final VA typically 20/40 or better). Macula-off RRD has worse visual prognosis — photoreceptor apoptosis begins within hours of macular detachment, and even successful reattachment surgery often yields only 20/70–20/200 final VA, with persistent metamorphopsia from photoreceptor disorganisation. Duration of macular detachment correlates inversely with visual recovery: <7 days macula-off → reasonable prognosis; >7 days → poor.
Swatches
Normal
HEX: — • RGB: — • xy: —
RD affected
HEX: — • RGB: — • xy: —
ΔE (CIE76)
—
ΔE (CIEDE2000)
—
Deep preview
Normal
RD (deep)
Chromaticity (CIE xy)
Detachment-induced chromaticity shift
D65 white point: 0.313, 0.329
Image simulation

Retinal detachment simulations model the visual impact of photoreceptor separation from the RPE. Rhegmatogenous RD: models the progressive loss of photoreceptor function as subretinal fluid accumulates — detached retina has no direct choroidal blood supply, causing rapid outer segment degeneration. The simulation represents the average luminance attenuation and desaturation in the detached retinal territory; the actual curtain-like spatial pattern of VF loss (corresponding to the detached quadrant) is a spatial scotoma not fully representable in a uniform swatch but approximated in image mode. Tractional RD: models the mechanical distortion and progressive constriction from fibrovascular membrane contraction — metamorphopsia (straight lines appear wavy) is a spatial distortion effect modelled as contrast reduction + desaturation. Exudative RD: models the optical effect of subretinal fluid (serous detachment) causing mild-to-moderate luminance attenuation and desaturation without the severity of RRD (RPE pump function partially maintained). ΔE2000 per Sharma et al. (2005). Not for clinical diagnosis — retinal detachment is a surgical emergency requiring urgent ophthalmologic evaluation.

Multi-condition comparison
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Compare rhegmatogenous RD (acute photoreceptor–RPE separation with rapid progression to scotoma), tractional RD (gradual mechanical retinal elevation with distortion), and exudative RD (serous subretinal fluid with metamorphopsia). Observe how RRD produces the most severe luminance attenuation at high severity (complete photoreceptor death in detached territory), while exudative RD maintains partial RPE pump function and is potentially reversible.