Warning Signs Of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Photopsias

Photopsias are more commonly known as eye floaters. The phenomenon occurs when luminous objects appear in an individual's vision, either in one or both of their eyes. Some photopsias might become permanent, while others are quick flashes of light that disappear. In most cases, photopsias will look like flickering lights, floating shapes, shimmering lights, moving dots, or static. Like photophobia, a photopsia tends to be a symptom of another condition. Photopsias can be a sign of other serious eye conditions in addition to retinitis pigmentosa. They might indicate an individual has suffered a peripheral vitreous detachment, which happens when the gel surrounding the eye separates from the retina. This tends to occur naturally as individuals age. A more serious condition is retinal detachment, which occurs when the retina detaches from its normal position. This causes it to lose access to oxygen-carrying cells, and if it isn't treated immediately, it can cause permanent vision loss. Because of the potential seriousness of photopsia-related conditions, it's important to get evaluated by an optometrist right away when experiencing this symptom.