Retinal Detachment - Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

A retinal detachment is commonly preceded by a posterior vitreous detachment which gives rise to these symptoms:

• flashes of light (photopsia) – very brief in the extreme peripheral (outside of center) part of vision
• a sudden dramatic increase in the number of floaters
• a ring of floaters or hairs just to the temporal side of the central vision
• a slight feeling of heaviness in the eye

Although most posterior vitreous detachments do not progress to retinal detachments, those that do produce the following symptoms:

• a dense shadow that starts in the peripheral vision and slowly progresses towards the central vision
• the impression that a veil or curtain was drawn over the field of vision
• straight lines (scale, edge of the wall, road, etc.) that suddenly appear curved (positive Amsler grid test)
• central visual loss