Overview
Introduction
A sudden curtain, shadow, or missing area in the visual field is a time sensitive emergency, even when the eye is painless.
A sudden curtain, shadow, or missing area in the visual field is a time-sensitive emergency, even when the eye is painless. New flashes or a sudden increase in floaters may reflect posterior vitreous detachment, but the same symptoms can accompany a retinal tear; symptoms alone cannot safely distinguish them. The RN should document baseline visual acuity and field changes, prevent delay, avoid activities that increase intraocular pressure, and arrange urgent ophthalmology evaluation. The clinical goal is to preserve the macula before central vision is permanently affected.