Vitreous detachment occurs when the vitreous begins to pull away from the retina. When this happens, an individual may see flashing lights our dark spots in their vision. These spots or “floaters” as they are often called may appear and disappear. However, the technical name for these spots is vitreous detachment.

Be aware that when these floaters start appearing—especially if they appear with flashes of light—there is a small chance of retinal detachment. If this were to occur, you would experience a rapid decrease in your sight—almost like a curtain coming down in front of your eyes. However, the chances of this happening are minimal—about 1 in 10,000 individuals will experience retinal detachment as a complication of vitreous detachment.

If you begin to experience dark spots, flashes of light, or a sudden decrease in your vision we encourage you to contact the Quigley Eye Specialists.