Shadow or Curtain in Vision

This is generally considered a symptom necessitating an urgent ocular evaluation as it may represent a retinal detachment. In a retinal detachment, tears and holes form in the retina which can lead to the fluid in the eye (vitreous) passing through these holes and accumulating beneath the retina. A retinal detachment occurs when the retina is separated from the back wall of the eye from the fluid beneath it. Most detachments begin in the periphery. A shadow off to the side may be noted but central (reading) vision is initially good. With time, the detachment may progress to involve the macula and central vision will be lost. With early diagnosis and treatment, retinal detachments may be repaired by a gas bubble (pneumatic retinopexy), scleral buckle or vitrectomy surgery and excellent vision may be restored.