If you have a retinal tear or detachment do you have all the symptoms or just on!

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Your correct about the symptoms of retinal tear or detachment. However, Retinal Detachments or Tears hardly ever effect both eyes at the same time and you would normally have more than one symptom if you had a retinal problem. Symptoms include a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light often looking like lightening bolts in your peripheral vision and partial vision loss, like a veil over part of your eye. The symptoms would would not be occasional but constant and can be seen in light and dark areas and with your eyes opened or closed.

If you only see light or flashes sometimes and they only last a few seconds, you probably do not have any retina problems or any other optical problems. The cause of your "sometime seeing lights" could be many, including but not limited to, shadows interrupting a natural or artificial light source or eye strain. If you have no vision problems, you have nothing to worry about.

If you ever feel you do have an eye problem, including a need for glasses, and can prove you can't afford the visit, google "your closest town or city and free eye exams". All hospital emergency rooms must see emergency patients whether or not you have health insurance, or money or not, but they will bill you, Most hospitals will work out a reduced payment plan and so will most eye clinics. Eye clinics usually a much cheaper fixed fee per visit than a private ophthalmologist. If you are covered under Health Insurance and develop an eye problem, the visit to the ophthalmologist would be covered. Visits for eye exams related to corrective lenses are generally not covered. Sorry, probably more info than you wanted. Happy Holidays

Hi there,
The location and the size of the retinal tear will determine what sorts of symptoms you have.
If it's a small tear in the extreme periphery, you won't have any symptoms at all!!!.
That's not to worry you though.. because most people will see flashes of lights... like fireworks... lasting anywhere between a few minutes to 1/2 a day.
After a few hours, they may or may not see a largish floater entering their vision...
Those 2 are most common symptoms.

If you have blurry vision, or veil over your vision, it's way past a retinal tear.. and more likely to be a retinal DETACHEMENT... and this is sight threatening...

If you are concerned, you don't have to go and see an Ophthalmologist... (not yet anyhow). Go and see your Optometrist first.. they will do the 'detection'.. and if you do have a tear, then they will send you to the Ophthalmologist... no ifs or buts... cost or no cost.. your sight is more important...
OK, if no money, they will send you to the E.R. at the hospital...