Retinal Tear

With normal aging, the vitreous gel inside the eye changes composition. It slowly begins to separate away from the underlying retina inside the eye. When this occurs, the vitreous and retina can be tightly attached and some tugging on the retina might occur. Patients usually notice this as flashes of light when traction is exerted on the retina. If the attachment is even stronger, a small tear might be created in the retina as the vitreous separates away. This retinal tear can lead to a retinal detachment which requires surgery but often the tears can be treated with an in-office laser procedure if they are caught early enough. Anyone experiencing a sudden shower of floaters or persistent flashes in their vision should undergo a dilated eye exam as soon as possible.