The most common symptoms of PVD are flashing lights and floaters.

• Flashing lights - typically bright white or yellow streaks in your peripheral vision.
• Floaters - small dots, circles, lines, flies, or cobwebs that float across your vision.

For most people, no treatment is required. The detached vitreous remains detached and does not re-attach again. PVD does no cause any permanent vision loss, but some associated complications may affec the vision. It is therefore very important that you consult your ophthalmologist as early as possible for a thorough dilated retinal examination if you experience th symptoms of flashes and floaters.

In most cases, PVDs occur without causing any problems. However, in up to 10% of cases, PVDs are accompanied by an ocular complication. These can include vitreous hemorrhages, retinal tears, and retinal detachments.

• Vitreous hemorrhage - sometimes, PVDs can cause some bleeding into the vitreous cavity. In this situation, your eye needs to be examined thoroughly for any signs of a retinal tear or detachment. You may see some stringy floaters, or your vision will be completely obscured. Typically, the blood will clear over several months. Severe cases will require surgery to remove the blood
• Retinal tear - while the vitreous is detaching, it can sometimes tug on the retina and cause a small tear or break. You may see more floaters than normal. If this occurs, you will need to treat the tear with laser before it progresses into a retinal detachment.
• Retinal detachment - Retinal detachments are more severe than retinal tears, because the retina peels away from the wall of the eye. In addition to flashes and floaters, you will see a shadow in your field of vision. This will require surgery to re-attach the retina, since this is a sight threatening condition.