'Spots' the sign: Retinal detachment and vision loss prevention

Retinal detachment (RD) is a vision- threatening emergency requiring timely recognition and referral. Rhegmatogenous RD is the most common type, arising from a retinal tear that allows subretinal fluid to accumulate and subsequent RD. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is common and usually benign, but can induce retinal tears. Hallmark symptoms (flashes, floaters, field defects and failing vision - referred to as the '4 Fs') should alert clinicians to possible RD.

To highlight the time-critical nature of  RD and provide practical guidance for  its recognition and management in general practice.

Patients presenting with the '4 Fs', particularly high-risk groups, require urgent ophthalmic assessment. General practitioner (GP) evaluation for referral should include visual acuity, confrontation fields and, where feasible, fundoscopy.