Can You See With a Detached Retina?

Detached retina is the term used for several forms of damage to the light-sensitive lining of the inner eye. Unless treated promptly, the condition can trigger permanent vision loss or blindness.

The Facts

• According to the National Eye Institute, a retinal detachment can occur when a tear in the retina allows fluid to separate the retina from its underlying layer, when scar tissue on the retina contracts and causes a similar separation, or when injury or inflammation allows fluid to seep under the retina.

Symptoms

• Initial symptoms of a detached retina include the sudden or gradual development of specks or cobweb-like structures (collectively known as floaters) in the visual field; flashes of light inside the visual field; or the development of a graying veil or curtain in the visual field.

The Importance of Treatment

• The NEI considers a detached retina a medical emergency, and urges anyone with known symptoms to seek rapid treatment by an eye care professional to avoid permanent loss of vision.

Treatment Outcomes

• More than 90 percent of individuals treated for a retinal detachment are cured before blindness occurs.

Considerations

• If the highly-sensitive central portion of the retina (called the macula) detaches, the chances of a positive treatment outcome diminish substantially.