PSA: if you have a sudden change in vision (floaters, cloudiness): this is a symptom of this fun thing called a retinal detachment, and it is an emergency! Fortunately, that’s not what I had, but it sure seemed like it on last Tuesday morning, with those symptoms starting Monday evening. Instead, I apparently had a random, spontaneous broken blood vessel in my eye, causing bleeding, which obscured my vision. How does this happen? Answer from the doctor: “Bad luck”. Asked the other doctor the same question, next day - same answer! Umm, how do you mitigate that risk? Yeah. No, I did not fall off my horse, trip and fall, have a car accident, or anything remotely close, in years. I’m very grateful that my optometrist was able to see me the next morning, ship me to a specialist immediately, who then scheduled me for surgery on the following day. I dodged a bullet here, but learned a lot about these conditions in the process. Such as: risks of retinal detachment and retinal tears increase with age. PSA for older readers OR anyone with older relatives!
Yep. A couple years ago (age 67-ish at the time) I had a wonderful session with my mare. She really gave me her back and her trot was a joy to sit, I finished and was walking to my car when I suddenly had cobwebs in my right eye. It was weird because I could see them on my hand when I put it in front of my eye. By the time I got home, I was getting flashes in the upper right quadrant of that eye. The flashes settled down and I was able to sleep but they started up again in the morning. I got me to the ophthalmologist and he declared I just popped a big floater. The flashes rapidly diminished and the floater has reduced a lot or I hardly notice it anymore, He told me I would probably get one in the other eye within a year. I am glad to say he was wrong and I haven’t had any more issues thus far.
For what I read…always get it checked if you have the flashes. The Dr’s office agreed and said always call for an exam or go to the ER. Yes…I concur…do not mess around with your vision. Glad yours was relatively easily fixable (except for the surgery part 
).
Susan
When I saw what looked like a flock of sparrows wheeling around in the bright blue sky, I was at first fascinated, which quickly turned to fear when I realized that it was on the inside, I was looking through the flock. I did consider continuing my ride, the non eventful lovely summer ride, but figured I should quit and get it checked out. Our local small town hospital wasn’t that worried, but husband dragged me into the city, to the eye hospital. After a very long wait, turned out I had torn my retina, stayed in the city overnight, and had it lasered the next morning.
Mine was just a freak thing as well, no blow to the head, no rough ride, and the surgeon said it was in an area that doesn’t usually tear. He told me not to ride for 2 weeks, but Provincial Finals were 10 days away, so I asked if 10 days would be OK. He wasn’t very happy!
I got lectured by a friend who did have a detached retina, so I was good, but yes rode at Provincials….
