Retinal detachment symptoms

I have had a detached retina in both of my eyes (on different occasions), requiring eye surgery. The early symptoms are flashing lights, unusual floaters (not occasional ones if you have them). It is a medical emergency. If you need treatment and you don’t have it quickly enough, you can lose the sight in the eye. If you have an Eye Hospital within reasonable distance, go to their A&E, otherwise your local A&E.

My Strategy: Resolve your health conditions and other life problems from a holistic mindset and approach. “Holistic” means caring for the person as a whole (whole mind, whole body and whole spirit) instead of just as an accumulation of symptoms.

I was diagnosed with PVD about 10 years ago but was never tod I might end up with a detached retina. I have my eyes checked regularly and although I still sometimes suffet with the PVD it has so far not got any worse, I still get floaters and flashes of light occasionally but that's all..

I had exactly the same thing around 20 years ago. I was away from home but rang the optician the minute I got back and was told to go to A&E. It was explained to me as an age thing and in my case instead of a gradual detachment it had all happened at once. Since then I have had a lot of floaters in my eye which often make me think there's a spider or insect nearby but no other effects.

I had a sudden detached retina two years ago. The bottom half of my eye was dark and images above distorted. I got an emergency appointment at Specsavers. The optician spent a good deal of time checking my eye, then arranged an emergency appointment at the Royal Free ophthalmology dept. Although it was a very long, tiring day, I had surgery that evening. Unfortunately the retina detached twice more so four operations in total (the last to remove the oil put in my eye). I still have regular check-ups at the hospital and the sight isn't great but, with glasses for distance and reading, I can manage.

I'm going to recommend taking notice of Juno56's excellent warning.

I am very short sighted and had my first PVD in my mid 40s, then in the other eye 2 years later.

Both times I had a tear which was only picked up by a full examination with dilated pupil in hospital and both times I had to have a laser repair to prevent the tear developing to a detachment.

The first time I did not realise what was happening, and was very lucky that the A&E doctor did not want to take any chances so referred me to the hospital eye department. The second time I explained the problem to the A&E doctor and they referred me to the Eye department.

My symptoms were flashing lights and floaters - the best way to explain the little floaters was that if I looked outside at the sky, it looked like there was a cloud of gnats around me. I also had a large floater which was like a spider web. I think the little floaters (like gnats) were caused by the tear.

If you are very shortsighted there is more risk, as your retinas are thinner. I had lattice degeneration which had even more of a risk.

I would really recommend going to A&E at a hospital with an eye department and asking to be checked in the eye department. Your eye needs to be thoroughly examined with the pupil dilated, so you will not be able to drive afterwards for several hours.

Hi there not much to add except that I had surgery last year for epiretinal membrane (symptoms same as MD, but its not the same thing, though I have tha as well!). Just wanted to say not to be scared if you have to have this kind of op. It was amazing, they are so skilled and looked after me so well.

Loss of sight I meant to say

Yes two friends of mine had a detached retina, first person, flashing lights, loss of slight top left hand corner, straight to A& E where it was treated as an emergency, think they used a type of gas bubble to attach back the retina, they are ok now & sight saved.
Second friend not as lucky even though a patient in hospital for knee replacement, detached retina was due to falling out of bed in hospital- nothing was done for over three weeks- now sight impaired.
If you are having symptoms of flashing lights I would go straight to A & E Now! & tell them what the your optician has told you- good luck 🤞

After checking my left eye for PVD my optometrist was typing away on his computer. I asked him if he was typing a report but no, he said he was making sure he'd be paid and was putting his invoice in. Priorities!

I was told if I experienced signs of a detached retina to go straight to A &E.
Only one optician in our area did the test for PVD they are linked to the Hospital ( they get paid for doing it) so I had to ring around to find out where to go when it happened.

Our eye hospital will not accept 'walk ins'. We have to be referred by A&E or an optometrist. Luckily our local optometrist is the head one for our health board and will see anyone in an emergency if retinal detachment is suspected.

Loobs I have no wish to alarm anyone and my experience is by no means common. Please please go to the hospital if you are still experiencing 'flashing' lights. I was diagnosed with PVD about five years ago by my optician because I had floaters and the occasional flash of light and was informed it was very common but if I experienced any continuous flashing lights or a veil creeping over my vision to go immediately to A&E or the eye hospital. Unfortunately it happened very quickly and by the time I got to the hospital my retina had completely detached with the macular off. I had an operation to reattach it but unfortunately it detached again a couple of months later and over the next two years three more times (all the same eye). It appears to be firmly attached now but sadly I have very little useful vision in my left eye due to damage to the retina. With hindsight I wish I had gone to the hospital rather than my optician when the symptoms first started. Wishing you well. X

Gosh. Glad it's worked out OK but shame about missing your trip.

Aveline no, there is no need for treatment for Partially Detached Retinas, I was told that if it didn’t totally detach within a few days then it was unlikely that it would. But as we were flying out 3 days later I didn’t fly.
That was over 4 years ago, most of the floaters have ‘disappeared’ ( I think your brain stops you noticing them) unless I’m out in the sunlight.

I too am/was very shortsighted and whilst cataract surgery can and did provide new lenses, it cannot alter the shape of the eyeball of a very myopic person.

The result of that eyeball elongation was for me a torn retina which was very efficiently cured with laser. The symptoms were a sudden rash of floaters and circular light flashing round the edge of my vision.

I now also have vitreal detachment - it has produced a strange floater - large white spider. I was told that my brain would gradually correct for this, and now I do not notice it very much except first thing in the morning. I know to seek help if the flashing lights reappear or sudden change in floaters.

I'm used to my floaters too and they seem to be reducing in my first eye to 'go'. My second feels like there's a hair lying across the top when I'm watching TV but it goes away if I specially look at it.

Thanks everyone for the replies. So far so good, amazingly I have already got used to the floaters and flashing lights (more or less). I just hope that it doesn't get any worse.

My PVD was diagnosed about 20 years ago, though I’ve always had a lot of floaters which I’ve just learned to live with. Three or four years ago my annual Specsavers check threw up a small macular hole and I was referred to the local eye clinic. They confirmed a lamellar (outer retinal) hole. My consultant explained that some would operate immediately on this, but he was one that preferred to wait and see whether the hole got worse, as there’s a good chance it never will. I have a direct number to ring if I ever get flashing lights, a sudden deterioration in vision or blind spot, and I will then have to go straight in apparently. I have my third annual check later this month, so fingers crossed all is still well. Our (NHS) eye clinic is excellent and very thorough, though I’ve been given my appointment at a different local hospital this time so hope it’s as good.

I had PVD some time ago and was told at the eye hospital not to worry.

Seven years ago I had PVD in my right eye leaving a spider like floater. Last February the same in my left eye so now left with a floater in that one. I have got used to them over time but they are a nuisance sometimes, especially in bright sunlight.

I don’t need glasses for distance, only for driving or the theatre. I do find though that they can ‘mask’ the floaters if I wear them outside.

We were due to go on holiday to the Far East three weeks after the second PVD. The consultant cleared me to go but did say that if I had symptoms of a detached retina then to ring him and get on the next plane home and they would operate when I got back. Otherwise if I had it fixed abroad it would be six weeks before I would be cleared to fly.

Incidentally PVD is not a notifiable condition but we did tell our travel insurers. Also the consultant was NHS and not private so excellent treatment.

Were the retinas reattached surgically Oops?

Both of my eyes have partially detached Retinas that happened several years ago, the first one went just before we were due to fly to Australia, so MrOops went without me, but the Retina didn’t fully detach. and then a few months later the other one partially detached, again no further problems.
I occasionally see the ‘floaters’ ( mine are like thin threads of black cotton) especially out in the sunlight, but apart from that no further problems, fingers crossed it stays that way.

Thanks * Juliet* I'll be looking out for that now too. I'd assumed my eyesight worries would be over after the cataract ops. Och!

About 20 years ago I twice experienced a tugging away of the jelly within the eye, with a bleed and flashing lights. I believe this is what you have experienced. I was told not to worry, but have been left with floaters from the bleed. There has been no recurrence. I hope you find the same.