


Warning signs and symptoms

Most people will experience warning signs that indicate their retina is at risk of detaching before they lose their sight. These include:

  • blurring or distortion of your vision


Retinal detachment usually only occurs in one eye. If your eye is affected, there is an up to one in 10 chance that retinal detachment will happen in your other eye.

When to seek medical advice

Contact your GP immediately if you get any of these warning signs. If this is not possible, telephone NHS 111 or your local out-of-hours service for advice.


The retina lies at the back of your eye and sends signals to the brain, allowing it to see. Without a blood supply, the nerve cells die which leads to a loss of sight.



Read more about the causes of retinal detachment.


If your GP suspects retinal detachment, it is likely you will be referred to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist), usually on the same day.

The ophthalmologist will study the back of your eye with an ophthalmoscope (a magnifying glass connected to a light) and a slit lamp (a microscope that magnifies the eye while you rest your head on a chin rest). If there is a poor view of the retina, an ultrasound scan may also be used. 







Who is affected?

Retinal detachment is rare. Only one in every 10,000 people will develop it in any given year in the UK.


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Page last reviewed: 09/01/2015

Next review due: 01/01/2018