Eye health resource
A Basic Understanding of Retinal Detachment
Sudden new floaters, flashes, or a curtain or shadow in your vision can signal a retinal tear or detachment. Learn why these symptoms need urgent evaluation.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If you suddenly develop many new floaters, flashes of light, or a dark curtain or shadow moving across your vision, you need urgent eye evaluation. Prompt treatment can reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.
What Is the Retina?
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue lining the back of the eye. It converts light into nerve signals that travel through the optic nerve to the brain.
The large cavity in front of the retina is filled with vitreous, a clear gel. As we age, the vitreous changes and can separate from the retina. That process is common and often harmless, but in some eyes it can tug hard enough to create a retinal tear.
What Is a Retinal Detachment?
A retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from its normal position at the back of the eye. The most common type starts when a retinal tear allows fluid to pass underneath the retina, but detachments can also occur through other mechanisms, including traction from abnormal scar tissue or fluid accumulating beneath the retina without a tear.
Because the detached retina cannot function normally, a detachment can cause permanent vision loss if it is not treated quickly.
What Are the Warning Signs?
Warning symptoms often appear suddenly and can include:
- a sudden increase in floaters
- new flashes of light
- a dark curtain, shadow, or missing area in your vision
- a sudden decrease in vision
A few longstanding floaters can be normal, especially with age. The concern is a new or sudden change—particularly a shower of floaters, repeated flashes, or a curtain-like field defect.
What Should I Do If I Have These Symptoms?
Do not wait for a routine appointment. A suspected retinal tear or detachment requires urgent same-day evaluation by an eye-care professional or emergency department capable of arranging ophthalmic care.
Park Slope Eye's urgent and emergency eye guidance explains when office contact is appropriate and when a true emergency should go directly to emergency care. For a major retinal emergency, the goal is rapid diagnosis and access to ophthalmologic treatment—not waiting for a routine visit.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Anyone can develop a retinal detachment, but risk is higher in people with factors such as:
- a previous retinal tear or detachment
- a family history of retinal detachment
- significant nearsightedness (myopia)
- previous cataract or other eye surgery
- serious eye trauma
- certain retinal diseases, including advanced diabetic retinopathy
Risk factors do not mean a detachment will occur. They do make it especially important to take new flashes, floaters, or visual-field changes seriously.
Can Retinal Detachment Be Prevented?
Not every retinal detachment can be prevented. Protective eyewear can reduce the risk of traumatic eye injury, and regular eye examinations can identify some retinal problems before they cause symptoms. But even people who do everything “right” can develop a retinal tear or detachment.
The most important protective step is recognizing warning symptoms and seeking prompt care.
How Is a Retinal Tear or Detachment Treated?
A retinal tear may sometimes be sealed with laser treatment or cryotherapy before it progresses to a detachment. A retinal detachment usually requires an ophthalmologist or retina specialist and may be repaired with procedures such as pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckle surgery, vitrectomy, or a combination depending on the case.
The appropriate treatment depends on the type, location, and extent of the retinal problem and other features of the eye.
What About Routine Floaters?
Most floaters are not caused by retinal detachment. Still, it can be difficult to distinguish a harmless vitreous change from a retinal tear based on symptoms alone. A dilated retinal examination is often needed when floaters or flashes are new.
If you have stable longstanding floaters without a sudden change, bring them up at your next comprehensive eye exam. If the floaters suddenly increase or are accompanied by flashes or a curtain/shadow, seek urgent care.
Originally published . Substantially updated .