What are the Symptoms of Retinal Detachment?
Last month, we shared the symptoms of retinal tears and how they can cause a sudden onset of black spots (floaters) in your field of vision, blurred vision and a gradual decrease in peripheral (side) vision. Retinal detachment has similar symptoms to retinal tears and may result in significant vision loss if left untreated.
A retinal detachment is a serious eye condition that occurs when the retina falls or slides off the back of the eye. When this happens, people start to see a dark area in their peripheral vision that gradually gets bigger and bigger. This is usually an urgent medical condition that requires treatment as soon as possible to avoid permanent vision loss.
What are common risk factors for retinal detachment?
There are certain factors that increase your risk for retinal detachment. Common risk factors for retinal detachment include:
- Cataract surgery
- Eye trauma
- Lattice degeneration (thinning of the outside edges of the retina)
- High myopia (severe nearsightedness)
- Previous history of retinal tear
- Previous history of retinal detachment in the other eye
- Family history of retinal detachment
What are common symptoms of retinal detachment?
A detached retina isn’t usually painful, and can happen without warning. If you’re at risk for a detached retina, it’s important to know the warning signs. Common symptoms of retinal detachment include:
- Photopsia (brief flashes of light that occur outside the central part of your vision)
- Significant increase in the number of ‘floaters’ (small flecks or threads) in your field of vision
- Darkening of your peripheral vision or a curtain
- Straight lines start to appear curved
If you have any of the symptoms noted above, it’s important to seek immediate medical care for retinal detachment in Austin to avoid permanent vision loss. Call Austin Retina Associates at 800-252-8259 to schedule an appointment.