What is a common cause of sudden vision loss?

Sudden vision loss is often caused by issues that affect the retina or the vitreous body of the eye, and retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage fits this description perfectly. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina pulls away from its underlying supportive tissue, leading to a loss of vision in the areas served by the affected part of the retina. This can happen suddenly and may be accompanied by symptoms such as flashes of light or an increase in floaters.

Vitreous hemorrhage, on the other hand, involves bleeding into the vitreous cavity, which can obscure vision and also happen abruptly. Both conditions require prompt medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.

While cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy can indeed lead to vision loss, they typically do not cause sudden changes in vision. Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration generally lead to gradual vision deterioration. Diabetic retinopathy also progresses slowly over time, making retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage the most immediate and serious causes of sudden vision changes.