The symptoms of retinal detachment, vitreous detachment, and retinal tears are similar. In retinal detachment, one will experience flashes of light that don't go away, floaters and possibly a curtain or drape across the vision. The sight is usually affected, and the eye often feels mild pain. In vitreous detachment, symptoms are identical, except there is no pain. The flashes go away in about a week, and the floaters drop down out of the way over several months.
Retinal tears are usually without symptoms.
If there are symptoms, usually people see lightning flashes sporadically. They are usually discovered on routine dilated eye exams. They place one at higher risk for retinal detachments. Retina detachments and tears are treatable, while vitreous detachments are not. Retinal detachments are treated with a scleral buckle or pneumatic retinopexy .