I was told that if I see occasional "flashes" in my vision, it could mean that I am experiencing a retinal tear that could eventually render me blind. I was also told that people with myopia are more prone to retinal tears. Is this true? And, if so, what should I do?

Adrian

The retina coats the back of the eye and contains the vision cells that collect visual information, which is sent to the brain. People who are myopic (nearsighted) have longer eyes than people who have normal vision. For people with longer eyes, the retina has to stretch further to cover the extra area. Therefore, the retina in a myopic person has some thinner areas that are more prone to developing a tear. Besides myopia, the other common risk factors for retinal tears are eye injury and lattice degeneration.

There are three main symptoms that require an immediate eye exam to check for the possibility of retinal tears. The first is a sudden onset of new "floaters" in the eye. Floaters are opaque areas in the eye's vitreous gel that can be seen in a person's field of vision. The appearance of new floaters is sometimes, but not always, associated with retinal tears. A second symptom is "flashes" in the vision, such as you report. People often describe these flashes as being similar to camera flash bulbs going off in the eye. Flashes are believed to be caused by friction of the vitreous gel moving over torn areas of the retina. The third symptom is a loss of peripheral, or side, vision. When someone experiences new floaters, flashing lights or loss of side vision, the eye doctor will carefully examine the retina. If a retinal hole is discovered, it can be sealed with laser treatment. If someone with a retinal hole does not have a timely eye exam, it is possible for fluid to seep through the hole, and detach the retina from the wall of the eye. If not repaired, a retinal detachment would lead to blindness. Fortunately, retinal detachment surgery has a very high success rate.

In addition to "emergency" exams related to specific symptoms, a person with myopia should see an ophthalmologist for yearly eye exams. Myopic individuals should also stay alert for the three warning signs of retinal holes and detachments (floaters, flashes and loss of side vision).