The retina is the part of the eye that sends images to your brain. Typically, the retina is firmly against the back of your eye. However the retina can tear or be pulled from its normal position, which can cause blurred or loss of vision. Retinal tears and detachments may require surgery, as they can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Some symptoms of retinal detachment include floaters, flashing lights, or gray moving across your field of vision. These symptoms alone don’t mean that you have a detached retina, but if you are experiencing them it is important to seek help and further testing.

Retinal detachment can occur at any time, although it is more typical in older patients. The likelihood of a detached retina can increase with conditions such as nearsightedness, glaucoma, previous surgery, or family history.

Retinal tears can usually be treated with laser treatment or cryotherapy. These procedures help place the retina against the back wall of the eye and generally involve little or no pain.