You wake and feel something is wrong. More dark spots than normal float before your eye. A light flashes briefly at the periphery. You blink. You rub it. Nothing changes.
You tell yourself it’s nothing. You’ll keep an eye on it.
And because you do, like tens of thousands of people every year, you risk going blind.
There is no pain or discomfort associated with retinal detachment; by the time people finally pay attention, significant and irreversible changes have already begun. Early symptoms, however, are detectable if one knows what to look for, and treatment begun immediately is a swift surgical repair that preserves vision. Delayed diagnosis, however, often results in permanent vision loss.
Here, you will learn what the early symptoms and danger signs of retinal detachment are, who is at risk, and what you should do the instant they are detected.
What Your Retina Does?
The retina is like a very thin piece of paper lining the back of your eye. It traps light and converts it into signals your brain reads as sight. It’s like the film in a camera.
When the retina detaches from the back of your eye, its blood supply is cut off. Retinal cells will start to die off within hours. Dead retinal cells never regrow. Ever.
That’s why the early symptom of a detached retina isn’t a minor annoyance.
The Early Signs of Retinal Detachment You Must Never Ignore
Recognizing retinal detachment symptoms early can make the difference between saving and losing your vision. All of these signs occur suddenly, almost invariably in one eye, and in no pain at all. Each needs same-day care.
1. A Sudden Shower of Floaters
Small, stable floaters are normal, but a sudden shower of new ones is not.
Tears occur in your retina when the vitreous jelly in your eye pulls on the retina. Small amounts of blood and other debris flood the vitreous, showing up as floaters. This is a sign that something is wrong.
Look out for:
- A sudden shower of dark spots/ cobwebs.
- New, thread-like forms that seem to come out of nowhere.
- A rapid increase in floaters that you already had.
2. Flashes of Light
Flashes or sparks of light, typically in your peripheral vision, are a critical warning. They occur when the vitreous fluid pulls on your retina, sending a false light signal.
They almost always occur before vision is lost, and represent the first emergency warning signal from your eye. Do not ignore them and wait for them to disappear.
3. A Dark Curtain Across Your Vision
Darkness, or a shadow moving over one side of your vision. This is the most urgent warning of all. This typically spreads from the edges inward, usually starting at the top or edges. People have described:
- A curtain of grey, moving across one side.
- A shadow of black from the bottom upwards.
- A blind spot that won’t clear up.
If this occurs to you, do not call or attend an emergency eye unit immediately.
4. Blurred or Wavy Central Vision
Straight lines are wavy. Letters seem funny. The one eye that isn’t better feels out of focus, even with my glasses.
This condition occurs when the macula, the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision, detaches. Once the macula is affected, regaining sight is very hard, even after surgery.
5. Loss of Side Vision
Things are disappearing around the edges of your vision. You may not be able to tell because your brain quietly compensates for it.
See for yourself. Block out one eye and sweep around. Now block out the other. A difference between the eyes should be attended to at once.
These detached retina symptoms should never be ignored, even if they seem mild at first.
Warning Sign Snapshot
|
Symptom |
How It Appears |
What To Do |
|
Sudden floaters |
Dark shower of spots or threads |
Call the eye doctor immediately |
|
Flashes of light |
Lightning streaks in the side vision |
Call the eye doctor immediately |
|
Dark curtain or shadow |
Veil moving across the visual field |
Go to the emergency eye unit now |
|
Wavy or blurred vision |
Distorted lines, loss of sharpness |
Call the eye doctor immediately |
|
Loss of peripheral vision |
Objects vanishing from the edges |
Call the eye doctor immediately |
Who Is Most at Risk?
Anyone can experience retinal detachment. However, you’re at a significantly higher risk if you are a:
- Senior citizen over 50.
- High myope (>-6 diopters).
- Diabetic or diabetic retinopathy sufferer.
- Past sufferer of retinal tear or detachment.
- An individual who has undergone cataract surgery.
- Family member with a history of retinal detachment.
- Victim of direct trauma to the eye.
- Suffers from Marfan’s or other connective tissue disorders.
If you fit into any of these categories, it is recommended that you have a yearly dilated eye exam, even if you don’t notice any warning symptoms. Prevention precedes the appearance of warning signs.
Three Types of Retinal Detachment
Not all retinal detachments are the same; understanding the type can help you understand your potential risks.
- Rhegmatogenous – most common. Occurs when the retina develops a tear. Fluid from the inside of the eye leaks into the tear and pulls the retina away from the back of the eye.
- Tractional – occurs as scar tissue pulls the retina away from its base. Often found in advanced diabetic retinopathy.
- Exudative – occurs due to fluid buildup under the retina with no retinal tear. Often associated with injury or tumor.
What to Do the Moment Symptoms Appear?
Do not wait for symptoms to subside, as they will not.
- Identify the eye causing problems when symptoms begin.
- Do not rub your eye or carry out any hard work.
- Remain upright, do not lie flat, as fluid may shift inside the eye.
- Telephone your ophthalmologist and request a same-day emergency appointment.
- If the ophthalmologist is unavailable, go to the emergency room.
- Do not eat or drink as an operation may be performed in a few hours.
How Doctors Diagnose It?
The diagnosis procedure is quick and completely painless. Your doctor will dilate your eyes and use one of the following to examine your retina.
- Dilated fundus examination – the only one that directly images the retina.
- Ultrasound B-scan – used when viewing through bleeding or cloudy media.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) – gives cross-sectional images of each layer of the retina.
In most cases, the diagnosis is made on the first visit.
Treatment Options
Treatment of the detachment depends on how advanced it is-the sooner you come in, the more easily it will be treated.
For tears-no separation:
- Laser Photocoagulation: A laser seals the tear.
- Cryopexy: The eye wall is frozen, and the retina is attached.
For full or partial detachment:
- Pneumatic Retinopexy: A gas bubble is injected to hold the retina against the wall.
- Scleral Buckle: A soft strip of silicone goes around the eye wall to hold the retina to the eye wall.
- Vitrectomy: The gel inside the eye is removed and replaced, and then the surgeon physically reattaches the retina.
If surgery can be performed within 24 hours, then the chances of fully recovering vision are best. Each additional hour decreases your chances of a full recovery.
How to Reduce Your Risk?
Unfortunately, you cannot stop every case. However, taking these precautions drastically reduces your risk.
- See an eye doctor annually with pupil dilation, particularly important after the age of 40.
- Keep a tight control on your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
- Wear safety glasses during sports or labor.
- Contact a doctor immediately on the sudden onset of any vision changes.
- Ask your eye doctor about your retina risk after cataract surgery.
Your Vision Is Worth One Phone Call
The first symptom is so easy to overlook; a floater is not threatening, a light flash does not sting, blurred vision only looks like fatigue.
But your retina is irreplaceable, and you only get one.
Each hour you delay is another hour in which the damage worsens. Each hour that you act is another hour the odds are still on your side. One eye exam by a specialist today can save you a lifetime of perfect vision.
We at RVAF do not believe that losing your sight due to preventable causes is a necessary evil. Our retina specialists have the training to spot the subtle symptoms.
Don’t wait until the shadow falls.