[Boomer]

Information is widely and wisely available so we can recognize the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. I wish the same were true for the symptoms of retinal detachment. But that's not the case so I thought I would try here to do my part.

The following information is from the Mayo Clinic website. You can go to their site and read the entire entry to learn more about how the retina detaches and how important it is to get immediate care.


Retinal Detachment:

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Symptoms

Retinal detachment itself is painless. But warning signs almost always appear before it occurs or has advanced, such as:

•The sudden appearance of many floaters — tiny specks that seem to drift through your field of vision
•Flashes of light in one or both eyes
•Blurred vision
•Gradually reduced side (peripheral) vision
•A curtain-like shadow over your visual field


When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing the signs or symptoms of retinal detachment. You are at greater risk of developing a retinal detachment if:

•You're older than 50
•You or a family member has had a detached retina
•You're extremely nearsighted

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency in which you can permanently lose your vision.

Causes

Retinal detachment can occur as a result of:

•A sagging vitreous (VIT-ree-us) — the gel-like material that fills the inside of your eye
•Injury
•Advanced diabetes