10 Warning Signs of Retinal Damage that Should be Consider
The retina is the most important part of the eye as it makes it possible to see things. It acts as a messenger and connects your eyes with the brain. However in a situation when the retina is not working properly then it is unable to send proper signals to the brain. Untreated retinal diseases can cause many eye conditions that can even lead to blindness. That is the reason why it is really important to know about some of the common critical warning signs of retinal damage before it can get worse.
Here are some of the common warning signs that indicate you are suffering from retinal problems.
- Distorted Vision — Distorted vision is an experience when people see objects out of the shape. It means things with straight edges will look bent or wavy. Distorted vision can occur due to too much pulling of the epiretinal membrane on the retina or capillaries bursting and leaking too much fluid in the retina.
Few types of distorted vision that people experience
• Wavy and crooked lines
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
In case you experience distorted vision, you should seek out the help of an eye doctor.
2. Dimmer Vision — Dim vision is a situation when objects appear darker than usual. It is the same as you are looking at something through tinted sunglasses or dimming down an overhead light. It happens because of damaged retina cells which result in the eye taking less light in. With a lack of contrast, objects appear darker than usual. It can be a symptom of retinal damage; you should always seek out professional help.
3. Double Vision — Double vision is a situation when a person experiences two visions of the same object. This vision can be often blurry, overlapping, or layered which can be uncomfortable for the people who are experiencing it. Double vision is a symptom of many eye problems. It can be caused by retinal damage. You should ask for help from an eye doctor if you are experiencing this condition.
4. Flashing lights — In case the retina is damaged, it can send abnormal or incorrect signals to the brain which can be experienced by the flashing of lights in the vision. It can be distracting and uncomfortable as well as difficult in seeing also happens. If you have never experienced migraine headaches or never go through random flashing in the eyes, it can be due to retinal problems. In case this symptom is continuously happening, you should seek help from an eye doctor.
5. Blind Spots — Blind spots can be something blocking your vision, complete blind spots, and large shadows. There is one blind spot in the peripheral vision everyone has, however when the size of the blind spot increased it can be a matter of concern. It happens when the photoreceptors are damaged in a specific place in the eye. It leads to no image recognition in the specific area where the blind spot happens. In case the blind spot is interfering with your vision, then it is a clear sign of retinal damage. You should take advice from a professional eye doctor before it can further damage your eye.
6. Lines in vision –Experiencing random dots or lines in the vision are normal and happen to everyone. However, If you are experiencing these lines in your vision continuously, it might be something to worry about. It might be due to retina damage, which leads to sending wrong signals to the brain that visualizes by seeing lines in the vision.
7. Seeing Halos surrounding lights — Retinal damage can cause a person to see halos around light sources because the retina is not able to develop a clear picture when it is damaged. Because of oddly reflected light, you might experience white or rainbow color halos in your vision also. It can be difficult to focus your vision and see the things that are far.
8. Peripheral Shadows — Some patients with retinal damage also experienced edging of shadows from the corner of their eyes. It may be caused because of blocked veins. It can lead to slow damage of cells. If this symptom continuously develops you should opt for advice from the eye doctor.
9. Grey curtain — In this situation patients experience a dark curtain blocking their vision. It can be caused when the retina gets detached from the back of the eye. Cells in the retina didn’t survive long without the blood supply and oxygen and get damaged very quickly. These damaged cells appear in the vision as a curtain. This warning sign should be taken seriously as blockage of blood vessels can lead to total blindness also.
10. Floaters — Floaters can be dotes lines or web that appears like floating in the field of vision. Although they seem like floating in front of the eye, actually they are small clumps of cells casting shadows on the retina. Floaters are harmless if they are in small amounts and fade away quickly. However, if the floaters are high in number and continuously develop, you should take help from an eye doctor.
Conclusion — It is really important to pay attention to the above-mentioned warning signs, mainly if these are occurring continuously it can lead to retinal damage. Retina plays a crucial role in the vision. That’s why it is really important to seek an eye doctor if you are suffering from any of the symptoms. A regular eye examination can also help diagnose the eye condition earlier.
