Symptoms

A retinal detachment is commonly preceded by a posterior vitreous detachment which gives rise to these symptoms

  • Flashes of light (photopsia) – very brief in the extreme peripheral (outside of center) part of vision
  • A sudden dramatic increase in the number of floaters
  • A ring of floaters or hairs just to the temporal side of the central vision
  • A slight feeling of heaviness in the eye

Although most posterior vitreous detachments do not progress to retinal detachments, those that do produce the following symptoms:

  • A dense shadow that starts in the peripheral vision and slowly progresses towards the central vision
  • The impression that a veil or curtain was drawn over the field of vision
  • Straight lines (scale, edge of the wall, road, etc.) that suddenly appear curved (positive Amsler grid test)
  • Central visual loss