Retinal Detachment
The retina peels away from the back of the eye, causing sudden vision loss and requiring emergency surgery.
A way to think about it
Imagine the retina as the film in a camera. If that film starts peeling off the back, the camera can't capture an image. Same with your eye—if the retina separates from the eye wall, the light-sensitive cells no longer connect to blood supply and brain, and vision in that area goes blank. Unlike a camera, you can't just reload film; you need surgery urgently.
What's happening in the eye
The retina is a thin layer at the back of the eye that captures light and sends signals to the brain. It's normally glued to the underlying tissue by the pigment epithelium and held in place by gel (vitreous) pressing from inside. In retinal detachment, a tear forms and allows liquid to seep underneath, separating the retina from the wall. The detached area stops receiving oxygen and nutrients within hours.
Common symptoms
- Sudden shower of floaters, like seeing pepper or cobwebs
- Flashing lights in peripheral vision, often before the curtain
- Dark curtain or shadow moving across the field of vision
- Sudden blurring or distortion of central vision
- If central vision involved: sudden significant vision loss in that area
Risk factors
- High myopia (nearsightedness) stretches and thins the retina
- Family history of retinal detachment
- Prior retinal detachment in the other eye
- Prior eye surgery, especially cataract or LASIK
- Vitreous detachment or posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)
- Diabetes with proliferative retinopathy, severe inflammation
Warning signs - seek care immediately
- Sudden floaters with flashing lights—see retina specialist emergently, don't wait
- Dark curtain shadow in your vision—this is a detachment in progress, get ER care today
- Any sudden vision change in your peripheral field—don't assume it's benign
- Prior detachment in one eye—any floaters in the other eye demands urgent evaluation
Questions to ask your doctor
- 1.Is my retina fully detached or partially? Is the macula affected or spared?
- 2.Which surgical approach is best for my detachment: pneumatic, buckle, or vitrectomy?
- 3.What is my reattachment success rate with the planned procedure?
- 4.Will I need a second surgery? How long until I know if it worked?
- 5.Should I be screened for similar problems in my other eye? How often?
Modern retinal detachment surgery successfully reattaches the retina in 90-95% of cases. If treated urgently before the macula detaches, most people regain useful vision. Time is critical—don't delay.
Sources
Information on this page is based on the following authoritative sources:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- National Eye Institute (NIH)
- American Optometric Association
- Mayo Clinic
Last updated: April 2026