Retinal detachment is a medical emergency as described by the optometrist. Retina is made up of eye tissue which is very thin in constitution. It has to be in a certain place and position to perform the function of perceiving light and density of it therefore forming an image. Due to various reasons, the retina may detach itself from the position and move away from where it is supposed to be, called retinal detachment.

It is important for the vision as well as health of retinal cells that the retinal stays in its place. In the normal position of retinal tissue there are numerous blood vessels which provide essential nutrition and oxygen to it. In a detached form, not only the eye sight is disturbed but also the retina tissue is deprived of essential nutrients and oxygen. More time spent in this state means more retinal cells are destroyed and damaged beyond repair. If you experience sudden flashes in your eyes or if floaters appear in your vision suddenly, therefore, it is important to consult an optometrist and an ophthalmologist immediately.

In most of the cases there is almost no pain in retinal detachment but following are the telltale signs of retinal detachment almost always occur before the disease is progressed to an advanced stage there these signs and symptoms should not be ignored:

• Appearance of uneven shadows in your vision which look like a curtain does.
• Vision becomes unclear and blurry which means that the retina is not able to perceive the density of light properly therefore outlines of the image that is being formed on retina are blurred.
• Loss of peripheral sight is potentially slow in advancement and you may not notice the loss of peripheral vision until very late stage is achieved by retinal detachment.
• Photopsia is the hallmark of retinal detachment in which flashes of light may be observed in one or both eyes.
• Appearance of floaters in the vision of an affected person. These floaters should not be confused by the floaters which occur in the vision of normal people. In case of retinal detachment the floaters appear suddenly.

There is no benefit and waiting for the symptoms to resolve on its own no matter how much eye care is carried out. Optometrists recommend that when you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist. Because of the nature of this disease, retinal detachment is progressive and the damage is done continuously and every second that you spent not getting a treatment, you are essentially doing more damage to your retina and getting one step closer towards losing your eye sight permanently.

As far as causes of retinal detachment are concerned, there is not one single cause that may be highlighted. The cause of retinal detachment can be aging as most of the people older than 50 report retinal detachment. Genetics are also important as studies have shown that a person is more likely to experience retinal detachment if they have a family history of retinal detachment which means that it is inherited. A damaged retina due to injury or an earlier surgery can also cause retinal detachment.

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