Retinal detachment

The retina comes loose from the inner wall of the eye. This is an emergency.

In short

In retinal detachment the retina comes loose from the wall of the eye. This is an emergency.
It often starts with flashes of light and suddenly many new spots.
Then a curtain or shadow can move across part of your vision.
It does not hurt, so do not wait.
Treatment is laser or surgery in hospital. The sooner, the more vision is saved.

A retina detaching from the wall of the eye Sabine Sahr, CC BY 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Symptoms

A curtain, shadow or dark area rising from one side
Often preceded by sudden spots or flashes of light
No pain, which makes it treacherous
If the macula is affected, sharp vision disappears too

How it develops

Usually a small tear forms first, often during a vitreous detachment. Fluid passes through the tear behind the retina, which then detaches. The risk is higher with strong short-sightedness, after cataract surgery, after trauma and with a family history.

Treatment

This is urgent: the sooner it is treated, the more vision is saved.
Examination with dilated pupils; if suspected, immediate referral to the ophthalmologist.
Treatment is always surgical: laser, a gas bubble, a band around the eye or vitreous surgery.
A tear found in time can be sealed with laser before the retina detaches.

When to get help the same day

Contact your GP or the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost) straight away if you have:

Any curtain or shadow in your vision
A sudden swarm of spots with flashes of light
Rapidly decreasing vision in one eye
Symptoms after a blow to the eye or after eye surgery

Make an appointment All eye conditions

This page is a short summary and does not replace a consultation. Want to know how the eye works? See The eye.