What you might notice

A retinal tear may not cause pain, but common warning signs include:

• New or sudden eye floaters: Dark specks, threads, or cobweb-like shapes drifting in your vision
• Flashes of light: Brief, bright flickers, especially in peripheral vision
• Blurred or distorted vision
• A slight shadow in your vision (a sign the tear may be progressing to detachment)

Any new or dramatic increase in floaters, flashes, or shadows should be checked urgently.

What a retinal tear looks like to a specialist

During a dilated eye exam, your retinal specialist may see:

• A small, irregular break in the retina
• Fluid at the edges of the tear
• Signs of vitreous pulling or tiny spots of bleeding

This is why urgent assessment is vital; even a symptom-free tear can be detected and sealed before it causes damage.

What causes a retinal tear?

The most common cause of a retinal tear is age-related vitreous shrinkage. Other factors include:

• Significant short-sightedness (high myopia): A longer eye shape can stretch and thin the retina
• Eye injury: Trauma from an accident or sports impact
• Previous eye surgery, such as cataract removal
• Family history: Relatives with retinal tears or detachment
• Weak areas in the retina: Sometimes present from birth or caused by degeneration

Preventing the progression of a retinal tear

When identified early, a retinal tear can often be treated promptly to prevent the development of a retinal detachment. In most cases, this is achieved in the clinic using one of the following methods:

• Laser therapy: Creates a series of small burns around the tear, forming a scar that seals the retina to the underlying tissue
• Cryotherapy: Applies a controlled freezing probe to the outer surface of the eye to seal the retinal tissue around the tear

Both approaches are generally quick, well-tolerated, and highly effective when performed before fluid passes under the retina.