A detached retina occurs when the retina pulls away from the inside wall of the eye. When this happens vision becomes blurred, shaded or distorted. Left untreated, retinal detachment almost always causes permanent vision loss in the affected eye. Retinal detachment and tears may be caused by eye injury, the aging process, tumors, cataract surgery, eye disease or extreme nearsightedness. Several early symptoms may indicate a detached or torn retina: Light flashes in one eye Floaters A dark shadow over part of the field of vision Blurred vision or blind spots Watery vision These symptoms do not always indicate retinal detachment, but if you're experiencing them, you should go to an emergency room, call us or see one of our doctors as soon as possible.