Symptoms of retinal holes and tears

[AnnaE]

Dr. Hagan,

What are the general symptoms of retinal tears and holes? I will look this up, but I want your point of view.

Thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[ladytalking]

I had a retinal tear and my symptoms included a sudden appearance of lots of black floaters, spider webs, and it looked like blood flowing down a wall  on top of all the other things going on. My floaters were jumping all over the place . I was terrified , and the doctor met us and did several test. He told me that it was a retinal tear ,and he wanted to call the retinal specialist to do laser surgery right them. I agreed, and it was done within the hour.Now I have a few left over floaters , and we don;t know if they will settle or not. This was in July. Now I have a cloud in my left eye and floaters in my right eye. All of this is because of cataract surgery. I wish I had never had it done, as you know.
Good luck to you as usual Anna. :O)

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Harold14370]

I had a torn retina. My symptoms were flashes at the outside edge of my peripheral vision, followed the next day by massive floaters. The floaters are due to blood leaking into the eyeball. I believe with a detachment, you will also have blind spots.

A torn retina can lead to a detachment, so it has to be fixed right away. The doctor will laser it to stop the bleeding.

A retinal hole is something completely different.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

flashes, floaters, loss of peripheral vision (some or all of these)
JCH MD

[AnnaE]

I guess that retinal tears and detachments have the same symptoms, or would small tears, I guess, have less severe symptoms. Are holes also the same, severe symptoms like RD and less severe when the hole is less significant.