Living with retinal detachment

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 symptoms of retinal detachment, get medical help immediately. Call 111 for advice because you may need to see an optician urgently, or visit A&E. The sooner a detached retina is treated, the better chance of preventing or limiting sight loss.

Living independently with a detached retina

In the following video, Hilary shares her experience of living with detached retina.

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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:

Bright lighting: ensure your home has plenty of bright, even lighting, with particularly good lighting for close-up work, like reading. Explore a selection of magnifier lamps available at RNIB.
Low vision aids: tools such as magnifiers can help with seeing details, and they may be available to loan from your local low vision service. Phones with large numbers and stickers with large print for keyboards also offer quick ways to improve your independence.
Technology: everyday technology can also enhance your independence. Books, newspapers, and magazines are available on e-readers and tablets in large text. Computers and phones can read messages aloud, and there’s also clever tech products such as talking microwaves and weighing scales. Explore our Tech Selector Tool to learn about other assistive technology.

Support for retinal detachment with Guide Dogs

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:

Habilitation or rehabilitation of important life skills
Our guide dog service
Our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists can make recommendations best suited to you and your needs
Tips and advice to help you make the most of your remaining vision
Resources and support on how technology can improve your independence

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.

Depending on your overall level of vision, you might be able to register as having sight loss; your eye doctor will be able to help. Being registered as either sight impaired (previously called partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (formerly known as blind) can help you get financial support, including:

Discounts for public transport and parking
Tax allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – this was previously known as Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Working with a detached retina

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency, so you'll probably need time off work at short notice to have treatment. It can take anywhere between two to eight weeks to recover from surgery. When you go back to work will depend on whether:

You drive to and from work
You drive as part of your job
Your job involves strenuous activities

If your sight has been permanently affected by retinal detachment, talk to your employer about the impact it's had and what useful vision you do have. They're responsible for making reasonable adjustments to help you manage at work.

There's support available from the Access to Work scheme, which gives grants to employers. These cover equipment or services that you need to enable you to work, such as transport to and from work, a support worker, specialist equipment and more.

Driving and retinal detachment

If your retinal detachment affects your sight, you shouldn't drive until an optician has checked your eyes.

After surgery, your eyesight will need to be checked by an eye doctor to ensure it meets the DVLA's minimum standard for driving. For many people, surgery can restore their sight enough to allow them to drive. However, it might take up to eight weeks for your eyes to fully recover from the surgery.

You need to tell the DVLA if:

You've had treatment in both eyes
Treatment in one eye might have affected your sight for driving (check with your optician)
You drive a bus, coach, or lorry, even if you've had surgery on only one eye

Support for people with a detached retina

Many people recover from treatment with a good level of vision. This is more likely the sooner a detached retina is treated. It also depends on how much of the retina was affected and whether the macula (the part of your retina that processes your central vision) was involved.

If retinal detachment has caused a permanent change to your sight, it's natural to worry about what this will mean for you. It can help to hear stories from other people who've had a detached retina. They'll be able to share their tips and reassure you that you'll still be able to do the things you enjoy in everyday life with some adjustments. Additionally, Hilary, who experienced retinal detachment, recommends accepting help from others:

Life is good now; I love the independence. The advice that I would give to others would be: if you’re offered help – take it. I struggled to come to terms with that, but I do ask now.

Get in touch

You can contact us to find out about services and support tailored to your individual needs.

Edited and reviewed by Susie Baker, Principal Vision Rehabilitation Specialist on 21 May 2025

Guide Dogs is committed to working alongside people with a range of vision impairments, who are registered as either sight-impaired or severely sight-impaired.

Our staff undergo comprehensive training in supporting individuals with vision impairment, to enable us to support you every step of the way through one of our many services, with and without dogs. We foster knowledge of living with vision impairment and create content in collaboration with our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and Habilitation Specialists.

This content is periodically reviewed as we continue to embrace new knowledge and up-to-date information, in order to improve how we deliver our services and advice.

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.