As the retina detaches it often causes a dark shadow, like a curtain or veil, in the peripheral vision, which usually progresses to complete vision loss.
The retina sends visual images to the brain through the optic nerve. When detachment occurs, vision is blurred. A detached retina is a serious problem that can cause blindness unless it is treated.
People can lose their sight within several hours of the detachment or within a few days. It is best that people who are experiencing symptoms seek treatment right away to reduce the chances of losing sight permanently.
Aging is the most common cause of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. As you get older, the vitreous in your eye may change in texture and may shrink.
Some people don't get all of their vision back, especially in more severe cases. A detached retina won't heal on its own.
Pneumatic retinopexy (gas bubble placement) is most often an office procedure. The eye doctor injects a bubble of gas into the eye. You are then positioned so the gas bubble floats up against the hole in the retina and pushes it back into place. The doctor will use a laser to permanently seal the hole.
The initial symptoms of a retinal detachment are the same as a retinal tear or a posterior vitreous detachment, i.e. flashes and floaters; however, as the detachment progresses, a dark, opaque moon-shaped shadow or curtain will appear from one side of your vision.
If you frequently experience stress you might wonder, can stress cause retinal detachment? The simple answer is no, stress cannot cause retinal detachment.
If you have a retinal detachment, it could affect your ability to drive. If you've had or currently suffer from a medical condition or disability that may affect your driving you must tell the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
A retinal tear is less severe than a retinal detachment, but you still may need treatment. You probably won't feel pain, but you may have blurry vision and a lot of eye floaters and light flashes.
Retinal detachment and driving
If your retinal detachment affects your sight, you shouldn't drive until an optician has checked your eyes. After surgery, your eyesight will need to be checked by an eye doctor to ensure it meets the DVLA's minimum standard for driving.
A retinal detachment can occur at any age, but it is more common in people over age 40 and usually occurs in people 50-70 years old when the vitreous normally shrinks and pulls free from the retina. It affects men more than women, and Whites more than African Americans.
Symptoms and signs of a detached retina
Another sign is seeing a shadow or a curtain descending from the top of the eye or across your field of vision from the side. These signs can occur gradually as the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue, or they may occur suddenly if the retina detaches all at once.
Our optometrist can diagnose retinal detachment using two tests. The first is a retinal exam. During this exam, we will use a special lens and a bright light to examine your retina. This test allows us to check for retinal tears, holes, or detachment.
Sometimes new floaters can be a sign of a retinal tear or retinal detachment — when the retina gets torn or pulled from its normal position at the back of the eye. Symptoms can include: A lot of new floaters that appear suddenly, sometimes with flashes of light.
A patient with an acute retinal tear may experience the sudden onset of black spots or “floaters” in the affected eye. This can have the appearance of someone shaking pepper in your vision. Flashes of light (Photopsia) are another common symptom.
Retinal detachment is one of the better known ophthalmic problems. It is a reasonably common, and treatable, cause of visual loss. The diagnosis must be considered by GPs when patients present with the sudden onset of flashes, floaters and visual loss.
Retinal Tear and Detachment Symptoms
The rate of progression of a retinal detachment can vary from days to weeks depending on many factors such as patient age as well as the size and the number of retinal tears.
The doctor may use an instrument with a bright light and special lenses to examine the back of your eye, including the retina. This type of device provides a highly detailed view of your whole eye, allowing the doctor to see any retinal holes, tears or detachments.
Most retinal surgery is performed while you are awake. Retinal surgery is usually painless and performed while you remain awake and comfortable. Advances in technology have decreased the length of surgery making outpatient eye surgery possible.
Don't do things where you might move your head. This includes moving quickly, lifting anything heavy, or doing activities such as cleaning or gardening.
Why do they occur? Flashes of light in the corner of the eye can result from an eye condition or injury. Photopsia is the medical name for these flashes, and this phenomenon usually occurs when there are changes inside the eye. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that receives light at the back of the eye.