Tractional retinal detachment can occur as a result of fibrovascular proliferation within the vitreous or at the vitreoretinal interface. This is commonly observed in conditions such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal vascular diseases with vitreous hemorrhage, and ocular trauma. Traction at the sites of fibrovascular proliferation may also lead to tractional retinal tears, resulting in a combined form of tractional and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
In cases with significant vitreous opacity, B-scan ultrasonography of the eye can aid in the diagnosis.