A Charlottetown ophthalmologist is warning the members of P.E.I.'s aging population they should know how to recognize if they have a damaged retina.
This light-sensitive tissue, lining the rear of your eye, converts the light that strikes it to electrical signals that can be interpreted by your brain. Dr. Suleiman Sefau told CBC news people in their 50s face less than a 10 per cent risk of a tear or detachment, but this grows to more than 60 per cent in your 70s.
The retinal specialist wants people to know the signs.
"Number one: flash and glide. Something pulling on the retina, the retina responds by a flash. Number two: floaters. Something leaks in your eye, it may be a tear, it may be just the jelly, so there is something going on there. Number three: if you see a shadow," said Sefau.
"If you notice your vision is in decline after these symptoms, there is something there."
Sefau said ignoring a detached retina for more than three days can make it more difficult to repair and can result in permanently poorer vision.