Urgent eye health warning
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is a serious eye emergency that needs prompt assessment and treatment.
The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. A retinal detachment happens when the retina pulls away from its normal position.
Retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. New flashes, new floaters, a curtain or shadow, or sudden missing vision should never be ignored.
Retinal detachment needs urgent assessment
Phone promptly for warning symptoms
Please phone us promptly if you notice new flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, a shower of small dots, a curtain or shadow, sudden blurred vision, or any missing part of your vision.
If our practice is closed, symptoms are severe, or the vision is worsening, seek urgent medical care rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
For urgent symptoms, please phone rather than using online booking.
What is retinal detachment?
Retinal detachment means the retina has separated from the tissue that normally supports it.
The retina senses light
The retina lines the back of the eye and sends visual information to the brain through the optic nerve.
Separation affects vision
When the retina detaches, it cannot work normally in the affected area, which can cause shadow, missing vision, blur, or vision loss.
Treatment is time-sensitive
Retinal detachment usually needs urgent specialist care. The sooner it is assessed and treated, the better the chance of protecting vision.
Retinal detachment is usually painless
A retinal detachment can happen without eye pain. This is why visual warning signs such as flashes, floaters, a curtain, shadow, or missing vision are so important.
How retinal detachment can happen
Many retinal detachments start with a tear or hole in the retina. Fluid can then pass through the tear and lift the retina away from the back of the eye.
A retinal tear can sometimes happen when the vitreous gel inside the eye changes and pulls on the retina. This is one reason new flashes and floaters need to be checked.
Not every flash or floater means retinal detachment, but new or sudden symptoms need proper assessment to rule out a serious cause.
Warning symptoms
These symptoms should be treated seriously, especially if they are new, sudden, worsening, or affecting one eye.
New flashes
Flashes may look like sparks, streaks, lightning, camera flashes, or flickers of light, often in the side vision.
Sudden new floaters
A sudden shower of floaters, many new dots, cobwebs, dark specks, or a new large floater should be checked promptly.
Curtain, shadow, or veil
A dark curtain, shadow, veil, or missing area in the vision can be a warning sign of retinal detachment.
Sudden blur or vision loss
Sudden reduced vision, distortion, missing vision, or a change that does not clear should be assessed urgently.
Do not wait to see if it settles
Some harmless eye changes can cause floaters, but it is not possible to safely tell the difference without an eye examination. Waiting can be risky if a retinal tear or detachment is present.
Please phone promptly if symptoms are new or changing.
Who has a higher risk?
Retinal detachment can happen to anyone, but some people have a higher risk and should be especially careful with new symptoms.
Moderate or high myopia
Short-sighted eyes, especially higher myopia, can have a higher risk of retinal thinning, holes, tears, or detachment.
Previous eye surgery or injury
Previous cataract surgery, eye trauma, or significant eye injury may increase the importance of checking new symptoms promptly.
Past retinal problems
Previous retinal tears, retinal detachment, lattice degeneration, or a strong family history may increase risk.
How retinal detachment is checked
The main aim is to carefully check the retina for a tear, hole, detachment, bleeding, or other urgent eye health problem.
Symptom history
We ask when symptoms started, whether one eye or both eyes are affected, whether symptoms are changing, and whether any vision is missing.
Dilated retinal examination
Dilating drops may be needed to give a better view of the retina, especially the outer edges where tears can occur.
Imaging where useful
Retinal imaging or OCT may be useful in some cases, but urgent symptoms still need a careful retinal examination and, where needed, referral.
Dilating drops may affect driving
If your pupils are dilated, your vision may be blurry and more sensitive to light for a while afterwards. It may be safer to bring sunglasses and avoid driving until your vision feels safe and clear again.
What happens if a problem is found?
The next step depends on whether there is a retinal tear, detachment, or another cause for the symptoms.
Retinal tear
A retinal tear may need urgent specialist treatment, such as laser or freezing treatment, to reduce the risk of detachment.
Retinal detachment
A retinal detachment usually needs urgent specialist assessment and often requires surgery.
No tear found
If no tear or detachment is found, monitoring or a follow-up check may still be recommended, especially if symptoms are recent.
Treatment and referral
Retinal detachment treatment is managed by an eye specialist.
Urgent referral
If retinal detachment is suspected, urgent referral is needed. Timing depends on the findings and the type of detachment.
Specialist surgery
Surgery may involve techniques such as gas or oil inside the eye, vitrectomy, laser, freezing treatment, or other specialist procedures.
Follow-up care
Follow-up instructions after retinal treatment are important and may include positioning, activity restrictions, drops, and review visits.
New shadow, curtain, or missing vision is urgent
A shadow, curtain, veil, or missing area in the vision can be a sign that the retina is detaching. This should be treated as urgent.
If you cannot reach us quickly, or if symptoms are worsening, seek urgent medical care.
Related eye health information
Retinal detachment is closely linked with other eye health topics.
Flashes and floaters
New flashes or floaters can be warning signs that the retina needs to be checked.
OCT eye scans
OCT provides detailed imaging of parts of the retina and macula, and is included in our complete eye exam.
Is retinal detachment painful?
Usually it is not painful. Warning signs are often visual, such as flashes, floaters, shadow, curtain, blur, or missing vision.
Can retinal detachment fix itself?
Retinal detachment does not usually resolve safely by itself and generally needs urgent specialist assessment and treatment.
Are all floaters retinal detachment?
No. Many floaters are harmless, but sudden new floaters or a sudden increase should be checked to rule out retinal tear or detachment.
Can I book online?
For new flashes, sudden new floaters, curtain, shadow, or missing vision, please phone instead of relying on online booking.
Possible retinal detachment symptoms?
Please phone promptly if you have new flashes, sudden new floaters, a curtain or shadow, sudden blur, or any missing part of your vision.
For urgent eye problems, sudden vision changes, flashes, floaters, eye pain, or injury, please phone us rather than using online booking.