In the following video, Hilary shares her experience of living with detached retina.
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A detached retina, also referred to as retinal detachment, occurs when the retina (the layer at the back of the eye), comes away from the blood vessels supplying it with oxygen. Symptoms of a detached retina include: a sudden deterioration in your vision, new floaters (specks or lines) in your vision, seeing flashes of light, a shadow or curtain of darkness at the side or middle of your vision.
For more information on symptoms, causes, and treatments for a detached retina, head to the dedicated NHS webpage.
If you experience sight loss because of retinal detachment, there are many ways to maintain an independent lifestyle. Most people live independently with a good level of vision following retinal detachment surgery.
A detached retina causes varying levels of sight loss, so the practical support you need can differ depending on the quality of your remaining vision. For example, factors such as the level of vision in the eye that didn’t experience retinal detachment, and whether the detachment affected your peripheral vision (side vision), central vision, or both, will play a part in determining the right support for you.
Our guide to making the most of your vision is a good place to start, and you can ask your ophthalmologist about a low vision assessment (LVA). Additionally, some items and tips for helping with day-to-day activities include:
At Guide Dogs, we have a wide range of services, both with and without guide dogs, and a team of experts who can work with you to understand your needs and agree on a plan that’s right for you.
The ways we could help you:
Here’s how partnering with a guide dog helped Hilary:
I wanted more from life than just sitting on my sofa; I wanted to be out there doing something. Portia [my guide dog] has come into my life and completely changed it again, it’s wonderful.
Enquire today, so we can help to find solutions that work for you.
Please note: Whilst Guide Dogs may be able to suggest various third-party websites which may be able to assist you, those are not endorsed by Guide Dogs. Guide Dogs have no control over those third parties and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information and support they can provide or the suitability and quality of any products or services they provide.
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