Vision Disorders

This condition manifests with the sudden appearance of bright, floating specks and flashes of light in the affected eye with a "shadow" or "curtain" appearing later which may gradually cover the entire visual field. It occurs when part of the retina falls away from the outer layer of cells to which it is normally attached. Breaks or tears in the retina also cause similar symptoms. Although most common in people over 50 years of age, especially those with a high degree of myopia, detachment can also occur in younger people, particularly following trauma. Surgery is the only form of treatment for detachment but laser surgery for a tear or break will sometimes prevent full detachment.