What Are Retinal Tears and Detachments?
The retina is the inside lining of the eye. It turns light into nerve signals. These signals are then sent to the brain where they become the images you see. The retina may be torn or detached due to aging, an eye injury, or other problems. Tears and detachments are painless. But they often cause troubling or serious vision changes. If you have symptoms of a tear or detachment, contact your eye care provider right away. If you can't reach your eye care provider, go to the emergency room. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency.
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| Fluid can build up and push the retina off the eye wall. |
Symptoms of a detachment
If you have a detachment, you may notice:
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A shadow or “curtain” on the sides or in the middle of your field of vision
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A sudden increase in floaters, flashes, and blurry vision
Symptoms of a tear
If you have a tear, you may notice:
Online Medical Reviewer:
Chris Haupert MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Tara Novick BSN MSN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Whitney Seltman MD
Date Last Reviewed:
12/1/2022
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