Retinal detachment symptoms

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.

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).

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.

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 .

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.

I’m sorry but that doesn’t work for detached retinas !

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to reply. I did mention to the optician that I wear contact lenses and have done for years and would that have caused it/be a problem going forward and she said not at all - the two things aren't related. I am now wearing my lenses less simply because I am worried that if the lense does detach, I could end up in A&E scrabbling to get it out of the affected eye (plus being unable to see with just one in after whatever treatment I need). As I said previously, it does seem to have settled down - I no longer get the flashing lights when in the dark - so maybe I will be one of the lucky 80 - 90%.

Gundy optometrists here are very well qualified. They are not just all about sales. NHS care pathway is via optometrist or A&E. They can then refer as an emergency to the Eye hospital. Our optometrist has all the same equipment as an ophthalmologist.

Loobs. I am sorry about your concern over your detachment. I had this just before my 70th birthday. I am now 82. Standing in the kitchen when suddenly something like a black spider “crawled “ across one of my eyes. Then black dots, lots of them. Rang Specsavers who told me to go to hospital. On the advice of my daughter I went to Moorfields A&E. They examined my eye from behind and said it was a vitreous detachment but would need to return as there was bleeding behind the eye. I was given an information leaflet. There was no mention of retina detachment although my symptoms had been similar. When I went back a week or so later the bleeding had stopped and I was also told that the other eye had vitreous detachment but had happened without any trouble. I also read that this can.commonly occur as we get older. In my case the black floaters gradually disappeared. However, when I was sent to a local hospital to be considered for a cataract operation I was given a list of possible complications and I saw retina detachment as a risk. I was told then that an op would improve a little but my risks were greater than the improvement. That was a few years ago and my yearly eye tests haven’t changed significantly. My plan is to steer clear of a cataract op until my eye sight affects my quality of life. Then of course it will be worth the risk. In my case I had relatives who swore by the difference the op had made and were encouraging me to have it done as it is so quick and easy. I know it is but my eyesight is too valuable to take any risk I don’t need to take and once it is done it can’t be undone.

WilliamGautier

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.

Well there you are - that will stop your retina detaching - hooray!

A ticking time bomb? You are CORRECT‼️ Do not rely on an Optician - they only want to sell you glasses. You need an Ophthalmologist (surgeon) - immediately.

A detached retina, if not treated immediately, can result in permanent eye vision LOSS. If you fancy that, just ignore it.

Perhaps the one good thing this optician did for you was detect the beginning of a detachment.
Proceed wisely.
USA Gundy

My older sister had both retinas detach, within an 18 month timeframe. It was similar in that she said a dark patch came over her vision.

I'm not sure of all the details, but she had laser surgery, and she said the worst part was the recovery. She had to lie face down on a special bed (much like a massage table) for 10 days , only getting up for 5 minutes per hour.

She had previous risk factors of quite severe myopia and high blood pressure. The one benefit now, she says, is that they did laser correction on her vision and she no longer wears glasses. I don't know how much they were able to correct her vision, or if it will ever be normal.

I went to have my second cataract op done, and they told me not to have it because I had PVD….and it would be dangerous.🤷🏻‍♀️ they check me every year.

I would definitely go to A&E, I had symptoms like yours developed a macular hole and then a detached retina. Best to get it checked out surprised you have not been referred by you optician.

As others have said go to Eye A&E asap, you need to get this checked with diluted pupil. I’ve had a detached retina in both eyes which started with floaters. I personally feel you cannot take chances with your sight.

I don't see how contact lenses which are worn externally could possibly lead to PVD.

I’ve worn contact lenses for 54 years, all variations. Very uncomfortable chunks of glass back in 1969 that could only be left in for minutes at a time, through hard lenses I’d to sterilise every night, soft ones I left in for a month, to the daily disposables I have now. I’ve always been careful with them and can’t remember having an eye infection since the early 70s.

Yes, I have PVD, but my consultant said that was common in someone as short-sighted as me. He’s never suggested that the lenses might be a factor. I’ll ask at my appointment later this month.

Josie883

Contacts are bad for your eyes. I had a friend that used to fall asleep sometimes with them still in her eyes and she got detached retinas. And some contacts, they tell you it is alright to sleep with them in. Don't. Wear glasses.

I wear them. Have a PVD. If you wear them and look after them properly, it's fine. Millions of people do!

Yes I've had/got it. Happened almost six years ago. Annoying but your brain gets used to it. Retina still intact. Had to be careful at first but I don't think about it now.

Should be PVD not old.

Contacts are bad for your eyes. I had a friend that used to fall asleep sometimes with them still in her eyes and she got detached retinas. And some contacts, they tell you it is alright to sleep with them in. Don't. Wear glasses.

I have had old in both eyes with. Few years in between. The first time I was on holiday in Corfu and got excellent private treatment with Ophthalmologist who wrote a report for hospital over here. Charged 100 Euros. Got it checked out when I got home. Second time was at the weekend and I was lucky to get see by NHS but I had to insist at A and E. Always get it checked because it can lead to retinal detachment if not checked. Have to put up with floaters and now have high eye pressures so monitored for glaucoma and use eye drops. Eyesight is very precious. Hope all is OK with you.

If you are worried about symptoms, do to A&E. Don't wait. I had one occasion where it was as if a thick white net curtain was covering my eye and another occasion where it was like black rain coming down. I also had a large black floater appear suddenly in the middle of one eye. Each time it was fixed with lasers.

I'm really, really hoping that I never experience these symptoms but I know what to do just in case. Fingers tightly crossed.

This may not be totally relevant to the OP post but I would like to share my mother's experience and what I learned from it.

My mother had a retinal detachment. I remember it very well. She asked me about her symptoms one Friday. The best way she could describe it was to say it felt like a black curtain was cutting diagonally across her vision in one eye. At the time neither of us knew what it might be and she left it for the weekend.

By Monday, the black curtain effect was larger and cutting out more of her vision so she made an appointment at the doctor, who referred her immediately to an eye surgeon, the very same day.

Unfortunately for my mum, by the time the surgeon saw her, later on Monday, the retina had detached completely. The surgeon explained to her that while he could reattach the retina, a partially detached retina would be much easier to repair than a complete detachment. She had the surgery to reattach it, but the surgeon warned her that trying to put a completely detached retina back exactly in place would be like trying to position a small pin in a tiny hole with the back of your shoe, or some such words, I don't fully remember. In other words, putting a completely detached retina back in its exact place would be extremely difficult. He said it would have been much easier if the retina was only partially detached, as it would have been on the Friday she mentioned it to me.

She managed to keep her vision, after surgery, but her vision was very impaired. Objects didn't line up correctly in her vision, objects seemed to be slanted and she mostly saw two of everything. It put a stop to her driving, but apart from that, she managed to live with it.

I say this not to cause fear but to mention that if a black curtain seems to cut across one eye, consider it an emergency situation because time is of the essence to get to a surgeon while the retina is still partially in place and not wait a couple of days until the retina has detached completely.

I hope my mum's situation might help anyone who might have this symptom at any time in the future.