Retinal detachment symptoms

I had a detached retina that didn’t follow the normal ‘curtain’ symptom.

I felt something was wrong, wasn’t sure what, it was as though I could see a bump on the bridge of my nose. Fortunately I had an apt at Moorfields Eye Hospital two days later for an unrelated problem in my other eye.

I had eye surgery the following day there. .i think I was very, very lucky, and the NhS at its best.

That was to someone who was recommending a holistic approach .. !!
Mine has come on suddenly
Initially flashes so ophthalmologist checked me out . Then four days later I got the floaters so went back . Still ok but you have to monitor any changes .. hopefully it won’t detach . He explained it well and so did dr Google
Floaters are black threads and tiny tadpoles
White flashes are in the dark and like lightning .
One eye only so far
It’s all a bit alarming and unsettling to be honest .and comes with eye strain and tired eyes . I can’t ignore it but apparently will dissipate provided there no tear or detachment . Fingers crossed .

When DH had a detached retina, it started with the odd flashing light in his eye, followed by bright shapes which got steadily worse, and then he said it was like a like a curtain closing across his eye. His advice is to go immediately to A& E. he was admitted (it was a Sunday) and an ophthalmic surgeon sent for. ( He had actually gone to A and E on the onset of the problem but two doctors told him to go to an optician if it didn’t improve- the ‘curtains’ appeared two days later,) It was decided that he should be transferred to an eye hospital.

That was several years ago. The operation was successful, and he has no further problems.

31yrs ago I worked in an office, starting at a computer screen for 8hrs a day, and suddenly started getting Moffat like headaches that lasted from lunchtime Monday until lunchtime on Saturday.
After about 3 weeks of this, I decided I needed to get my eyes tested because I thought I was straining my eyes with the computer.
The optician did my test and said there was something a bit strange about one eye, so asked a colleague to come and have a look. They diagnosed a retinal detachment and sent me straight to the local eye hospital.
No-one could work out why I had this detachment but I was told I needed (actual) surgery (with a scalpel, not laser) to fix it, pretty much immediately, otherwise I would probably go blind (this was a Friday afternoon and I had the surgery on the Monday morning).
Now, the retina can detach anywhere, and mine was under the outer edge of my lower eyelid, which affects the sight high up, kind of above the nose. I'm pretty tall (5'11½"), so don't very often use that area of sight, whereas someone shorter would use it a lot more often, so I didn't notice the deterioration in my vision, just the horrendous headaches.
A year later, I was diagnosed with MS, and finally discovered that it had been the cause of the retinal detachment.

Almost 15 years after my detachment, my son was having similar headaches, so I took him to the optician, just in case he had anything similar, and they found that he had a posterior retinal tear. I thought he might need surgery, but they said there was nothing they could do except annual checks to make sure it didn't get any worse. They still check it every year (16yrs on), but up to now, it seems to be (very slowly) healing itself.

So, I guess I'd say that it depends on the type of detachment, exactly where it's positioned, and the degree of detachment will all determine whether or not surgery is required, and the type of surgery (laser or scalpel).

Flipping predictive text....
My first sentence above should have said....
STARING at a computer and
MIGRAINE-like headaches

I should also add that I was only 25 at the time, so it was definitely not age-related as some other posters have experienced.

I actually had to have the surgery done twice (6wks apart) because the SHO who did the first one, didn't quite get it right. But after the second surgery (done by the consultant) my eyesight was 20:20.
It's only been the last few years (with age and the MS) that I'm having any issues with my sight, but the plastic button that's sewn onto my eyeball to keep the retina in place, has never given me any problems.