The retina is a crucial part of your eye that helps you see clearly. But what happens when your retinas are damaged and begin to detach from their place on the eyeball? Retinal detachment can be a severe problem if not addressed quickly.
It’s common for people to have questions about this eye problem, including “what’s a symptom of a detached retina?” At Campus Eye Center, we get many questions about this eye condition. Read over some of the FAQs we receive below, and then schedule an eye exam with us to ensure your retinas are in optimal health!
What Is Retinal Detachment?
Retinal detachment is when the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of your eye, becomes detached from its position on your eyeball. It would be best to address this serious condition with an eye doctor as soon as possible to keep your vision healthy.
What Does a Detached Retina Feel Like?
Pain is not a symptom of a detached retina, so you are unlikely to feel any discomfort if the retina pulls away from your eye. Instead, you will experience other symptoms that affect your vision.
What is the Most Common Symptom of a Detached Retina?
For most people, the occasional eye floater is typical and should not be cause for concern. However, the primary and most common symptom of a detached retina is a sudden increase in eye floaters. If you notice eye floaters when you usually don’t have them, or you notice a dramatic increase in the number of floaters you normally see, it is time to have your eyes checked for retina issues.
Other Symptoms of Detached Retinas
Besides increasing eye floaters, you may also experience “curtain vision,” where a dark shadow clouds the sides or middle of your vision. This curtain is a sign of retinal detachment that you cannot ignore and should address immediately with a visit to your ophthalmologist. Some other symptoms you may experience include:
- Light flashes in your vision
- Tunnel vision
- Suddenly blurry vision
While identifying these signs of retinal detachment is crucial, you may also be experiencing a minor case without any symptoms. Regular eye exams ensure your retinas are well cared for and remain in place.
If you experience any symptoms of a detached retina or suspect you may have retinal detachment issues, please get in touch with an eye doctor immediately. They will help you decide what to do and if you need to come in for an eye appointment.
What Causes Retinal Detachment?
One of the most common causes of retinal detachment is an eye injury. While there are some common risk factors that you can look out for, detached retinas can happen to anyone.
Common Risk Factors for Retinal Detachment
If you are concerned about retinal detachment, you may want to familiarize yourself with some of the risk factors associated with this eye issue.
- Age – As with many other eye problems, age is a factor that increases the likelihood of this problem happening to you.
- Previous Eye Surgery – If you’ve previously had a cataract or other eye surgery, you might be at a higher risk of developing retinal detachment.
- Other Retinal Problems – Retinal tears can lead to retinal detachment. If you’ve had previous issues with your retinas, you might have an increased risk for detachment.
- Disease – There is a greater risk of retinal detachment for diabetics and patients with high blood pressure.
- Family History – Have your family members ever suffered from retinal detachment? When there is a family history of an eye issue, the likelihood of you developing that disease can increase.
What Do I Do if I Suspect I Have a Symptom of a Detached Retina?
If you suspect a symptom of a detached retina, it is essential to get help immediately to preserve your vision. Retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated quickly.
Should I Schedule an Eye Appointment After an Injury?
Even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms of retinal detachment after any head or eye injury, you should have your eyes examined. Retinal detachment isn’t always severe enough to cause symptoms. Sometimes there is only a slight detachment. Ensuring the health of your retinas after an injury is crucial for maintaining your eye health and vision.
How Do You Diagnose and Treat Retinal Detachment?
Diagnosing retinal detachment requires an eye exam. Your ophthalmologist may perform a fundus exam, where your pupils dilate with eye drops, and the doctor examines the retinas. Alternatively, the eye doctor may use ultrasonic imaging to examine your retinas better.
Is Retinal Detachment Surgery Painful?
There are several treatment options and types of surgery available for retinal detachment. Depending on your procedure type, you may experience some pain after the procedure is over. Your eye doctor will help you determine the best pain management options depending on your unique circumstances.
What Can I Expect to Happen After Retinal Detachment Surgery?
Because each treatment option and person is unique, what happens after your procedure will likely differ from someone else’s experience. Speaking with your doctor before the procedure can better prepare you for your specific procedure and what to expect after.
How Do I Prevent Retinal Detachment?
The best preventative measure to ensure you do not suffer from retinal detachment is to keep yourself in good health and have regular eye exams. With regular eye exams, your eye doctor can keep an eye on the health of your retina and can minimize your risk as much as possible.
However, retinal detachment is not entirely preventable. Sometimes, a person might experience this eye issue out of nowhere. Eye injury is also a major culprit of retinal detachment, which is not always preventable. Care for your eyes as well as possible and have them checked frequently.
Schedule an eye exam with us at Campus Eye Center to keep your eyes healthy today! Let us check your eyes for retinal detachment and other issues. Contact us today to schedule your exam!
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