How would I know I have retinal disease? by Dr Annalien Steyn Retinal disease is extremely important to identify early, as irreversible vision loss can occur if certain conditions are not picked up early and treated. So how will you know that you may have a retinal disease or problem? Flashes and floaters A flash of light or lightning streak may be seen inside the eye when the vitreous gel (jelly like substance filling the eye) pulls on the retina. If you suddenly experience new flashes of light, it is important to see an ophthalmologist urgently as this could mean that the retina has torn. Floaters are small opaque items, like clouds, moving in and out of your vision. They can take on many shapes like dots, clumps, lines and…





