What is a detached retina?

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin lining at the back of your eye called the retina begins to pull away from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients. Without prompt treatment, it will lead to blindness in the affected eye. Most people will experience warning signs that indicate their retina is at risk of detaching before they lose their sight. These are:

• the sudden appearance of floaters – dark spots that float in your field of vision
• sudden short flashes of light in one eye
• a solid black shape or “curtain” coming over the vision in your eye

Contact your optician immediately if you get any of these warning signs. Retinal detachment is most often the result of the retina becoming thinner and more brittle with age and pulling away from the underlying blood vessels. It can also be caused by a direct injury to the eye, but this is less common. If your optician suspects a diagnosis of retinal detachment, it is likely you will be referred to the eye department at the hospital, usually on the same day. We have rapid access phone numbers that allow us to arrange this quickly. The quicker retinal detachment is treated, the less risk there is of permanently losing some or all of your vision in the affected eye. Most detached retinas can be successfully reattached with surgery. There are a number of different types of surgery available, depending on the individual. It can take months to fully recover from surgery on your eye. During this period your vision may be reduced, which means you may not be able to do some of your usual activities, such as driving or flying. Unfortunately, some people’s eyesight does not fully return after surgery and they have permanently reduced peripheral (side) or central vision. This can happen even if the retina is reattached successfully. The risk of this is higher the longer the detachment was left untreated. Retinal detachment is a rare condition. Only one in every 10,000 people will develop a new case of retinal detachment in any given year in the UK. As retinal detachment is associated with ageing, most cases affect older adults aged between 50 and 75. Retinal detachment caused by an injury can affect people of any age, including children.