Retinal Diseases

Symptoms

Usually the symptoms of retinal diseases are painless. Some are signs of an eye disease that could seriously impair your vision. Symptoms may be slight and easy to overlook. When the disease is present in only one eye, the healthy eye will compensate for the other. Many people live for years unaware that they have a retinal disease.

Signs and symptoms of a retinal disease include:

• Tiny specks, spots, hairs or cobwebs that appear to float in the field of vision. They usually are most noticeable in bright light, such as outdoors on a sunny day or in a well-lit room with white walls. When these spots appear suddenly, or significantly increase, they can indicate a retinal tear or detachment.
• A sensation of flashing lights (photopsia) in one or both eyes. Photopsia is most noticeable in a darkened room or when your eyes are closed. The flashes often appear in the side vision.
• Dark streaks or a red film that blocks vision
• Blurred vision or vision loss
• A dark or empty spot in the center of vision
• A shadow over a portion of the visual field
• Poor night vision
• Difficulty adjusting from bright to dim light