What Are the Warning Signs of a Detached Retina?

At Southwest Retina Eye Center in Odessa, TX, our ophthalmologist, Dr. Jose Mayans, takes retinal detachment cases seriously. Waiting to get treatment after symptoms present themselves can cost you your vision. Here are the warning signs and symptoms you should look for that can indicate a detached retina.

Abundance of New Floaters

In ophthalmology, floaters are specks that appear in front of your eyes. However, they are coming from inside the eyes. These floaters can look like a bit of dark swirl, spider webs, or tiny bugs in your vision. These specks are usually more noticeable in bright light. While floaters you’ve had for a while aren’t a reason for concern, new floaters should be evaluated for retinal detachment.

Flashes of Light

Another sign of retinal detachment is seeing brief light flashes or streaks in your field of vision. This symptom is a signal from your retina that it’s being stimulated by the eye’s gel pulling on it, then separating or tearing could form. While gel separation is harmless, tearing is not, so flashing lights may indicate something serious or result from something that needs treatment immediately from our eye surgeon.

Shadow or Curtain-like Spots

A more definite indication that your retina is already starting to detach from the back of the eye is seeing dark shadows or a curtain over part of your visual field. Once this symptom appears, it won’t go away on its own and may grow larger. Many people get alarmed when these shadows creep up, but some patients ignore this warning sign rather than get examined. Yet, this kind of delay can permanently damage your vision.

Visit Southwest Retina Eye Center

If you need to be checked out for retinal issues, our eye surgeon, Dr. Mayans, can diagnose them during an eye exam and offer treatment. Contact us at Southwest Retina Eye Center in Odessa, TX, to schedule an appointment. You can call our office at (432) 333-1324 to schedule an appointment.