RETINAL DETACHMENT

RETINAL DETACHMENT

Retinal detachment happens when a hole or tear appears in the light sensitive layer in the eye, causing part of it to lift away from its backing.

Although this is not a common condition, it is a serious one. When a retinal detachment starts there is usually:
  • A sudden increase in the number of “floaters” (the black blobs or shapes that we all see if we stare at a white surface)
  • Fleeting sudden flashes of light especially in the outside edges of the vision (unlike migraine, they only tend to last a second at a time)
  • Sudden blurring, or a dark shadow in the corner, of your vision
If any of these symptoms appear suddenly, it could be a retinal detachment that needs urgent attention. You should consult our optometrist or go to A&E within 24 hours of the start of the symptoms, if irreversible damage to your eyesight is to be avoided.

Please call us if you are concerned that you might have a retinal detachment. We will either be able to reassure you or ensure that you get the right treatment as soon as possible. We have all the latest equipment to diagnose whether you have a retinal detachment, please click on the words below to see how we use them 
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Slit Lamp
  • Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
  • Digital Fundus Photography
You can also get more information on retinal detachment from the NHS Choices website or the website below…

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