BODY SIGNAL ALERT/EYE, “CURTAIN” IN FRONT OF: DESCRIPTION AND POSSIBLE MEDICAL PROBLEMS
Behind the retina, at the back of your eye, lies a thin layer of blood vessels called the choroid. These blood vessels supply the entire eye with blood and oxygen, which help keep it functioning and healthy.
Sometimes the retina of one eye can suddenly tear away from the choroid, causing you to see a “curtain” or shadow in front of the affected eye. Your vision may also be blurred, and you may see flashing lights. You will, however, probably feel no pain. This condition is called retinal detachment, and you need to see your doctor immediately. Any delay in treatment could result in a permanent loss of vision.
Retinal detachment most often occurs when a hole or tear already exists in the retina. This may be caused either by trauma or as the vitreous humor, the gelatinous substance that makes up most of your eyeball, shrinks due to age; as the vitreous humor pulls away from the retina, it can take some of the retina with it, creating a gaping hole in the retina. The retina may then become detached from the choroid when the vitreous humor, which can seep in between the retina and the choroid, accumulates in the gap. This can cause pressure to build up, which can eventually force the retina to separate from the choroid.
Retinal detachment affects men more often than women, and unfortunately, if one of your parents had a detachment in the past, your chances of having the condition increase. Midlife adults also become more prone to retinal detachment with age due to the changes in the vitreous humor. Frequently, just before the retina detaches, you may see flashing lights and black floating shapes directly in your line of vision, not off to the side; if you blink, the lights and shapes will still be there. Only one eye at a time is affected, though retinal detachment may occur in the second eye after an initial detachment in the other one.
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