Retinal detachment is a serious condition that warrants immediate attention by an ophthalmologist. It requires surgical reattachment of the retina to its blood supply, according to the Mayo Clinic. Without immediate attention, the retina is starved of oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to permanent loss of vision in the affected eye. The good news is that if your retina detaches, you'll experience clear signs and symptoms.
Floaters
While everyone has occasional floaters in the eye as debris is occasionally washed out, retinal detachment is clearly different. When your retina detaches, you may see a stream of debris, or debris that is larger than usual, string-like or similar to having a hair in your eye. They may also appear to be similar to spiderwebs on the surface of your eye. It is not simply a small spot or two. Rather, the Mayo Clinic notes that it is a significant increase in the volume of floaters in your eye.
Flashes
If you begin to notice flashes on the periphery of your vision, call your ophthalmologist. It may happen to both eyes, or just one, but it is a standard symptom that your retina is tearing from its support system.
Shadow
The National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, notes that another common symptom is a change in your vision. It's as if a sheer curtain has been pulled across your eye, shadowing the things that you are seeing. The Mayo Clinic notes that this may occur for one eye entirely, or for just a portion of the eye.
Blur
If your vision degenerates suddenly, so that it is very blurry, you may want to call your ophthalmologist. The Mayo Clinic notes that a sudden onset of blurry vision is another common symptom associated with the beginning of the retina detaching.
Worth Noting
One of the important things to note is that vision changes are the only symptom of retinal detachment. If you are experiencing pain, this is not symptomatic of a retinal tear. Instead, you may be experiencing a different issue.
Note also that many patients experience one of the symptoms, but then vision seems to return to normal, according to the Mayo Clinic. A few days or weeks later, however, the symptoms reoccur and are typically stronger. Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms as any delay in treatment can cause permanent vision loss.
