Do you notice floaters and flashes of light in your field of vision? Consider making an appointment with your ophthalmologist to ensure that it is not a retinal tear. Dr Stéphanie Zwillinger tells you more in this Femme Actuelle article (in French), from journalist Esther Buitekant.
How to recognize the symptoms of a retinal tear
First, if there is a retinal tear, your eye will not swell and will have no signs of redness or pain. However, you will be able to observe these first symptoms in your field of vision:
- luminous points or flashes of light, most often bluish, not moving and in the same place (even when closing your eyes or when being in the dark);
- floaters or very fine particles;
- image distortion;
- a pronounced shadow or black veil at the edge of the field of vision;
- blurred vision followed by a loss of vision which can occur quickly;
- loss of vision in one eye, loss of central or peripheral vision.
How to react if you have symptoms of retinal tear?
If you notice that you, or one of your loved ones, have the symptoms mentioned above, Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger reminds you of the importance of consulting your ophthalmologist. In addition, make an appointment within the day if you observe the slightest significant loss of vision in your field of vision, coupled with a black veil. This could correspond to a retinal tear.
In order to ensure the best visual recovery, a procedure must be performed on the retinal tear as quickly as possible, within 24 to 48 hours, once it has been diagnosed by your eye care professional.
Other pathologies can cause the listed symptoms , however it remains important to consult your ophthalmologist in order to avoid any worsening or ocular risk.
To find out the causes of a retinal tear, but also how your ophthalmologist makes his diagnosis, as well as possible treatments, we invite you to read the article “What are the signs of a retinal tear and what to do?” (in French) by clicking on the link below.