Left untreated, retinal detachment almost always causes permanent sight loss in the affected eye.

Retinal detachment and tears may be caused by eye injury, the aging process, tumors, cataract surgery, eye disease or extreme nearsightedness.

Several early symptoms may indicate a detached or torn retina:

Light flashes in one eye
Floaters
A dark shadow over part of the field of vision
Blurred vision or blind spots
Watery vision

These symptoms do not always indicate retinal detachment, but if you’re experiencing them, you should call or see uS as soon as possible.