If you get flashes of light in one of your eyes (particularly if middle-aged or older)...

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19. Vitreous detachment virtually universal after 60

While I agree with the OP - retinal tears are not something to be taken lightly; they will not get better on their own and can result in blindness - posterior vitreous detachment is something almost everyone over 60 will experience, and the floaters and flashes are the symptoms. The condition in itself is harmless, but it can, especially at the start of the process, lead to the more serious retinal issues.

So, what I am saying is, if you experience these symptoms, go to an ophthalmologist, but don't assume the worst. There's something like a 95% chance that there is nothing wrong. My experience is that the 4-12 week timeframe for the symptoms to settle down is very optimistic. I'm 59, and my left eye started the process last summer. My right eye started about three or four months later. Like you, I was given the 12 week number to expect improvement. A year later, my left eye is finally almost better, but my right eye is still flashing like crazy.

Many physical annoyances as we age. I drove 4 hours without stopping yesterday for the first time in years, and getting out of the car was almost impossible, my knees and ankles had stiffened up so much.