Description

Retinal diseases vary widely, but most of them cause visual symptoms. Retinal diseases can affect any part of the retina, a thin layer of tissue on the inside of the back wall of the eye.

The retina contains millions of light-sensitive cells, called rods and cones, and other nerve cells that receive and organize visual information. The retina sends this information to the brain via the optic nerve, enabling you to see.

The treatment is available for some diseases of the retina. Depending on your condition, the goals of treatment can stop or slow the disease. This can help to preserve, improve or restore vision. Without treatment, some diseases of the retina can cause vision loss or blindness.

Types of

Common retinal diseases and conditions include:

  • Tearing of the retina. A retinal tear occurs when the clear, jelly-like substance in the center of your eye, called the vitreous humor, it shrinks and pulls on the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye, called the retina. This can cause a tear in the tissue of the retina. It is often accompanied by the sudden onset of symptoms such as floaters and flashing lights.
  • The detachment of the retina. A retinal detachment is defined by the presence of fluid under the retina. This usually occurs when the fluid passes through a tear of the retina, causing the retina to lift away from the underlying layers.
  • Diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetes, the small blood vessels in the back of your eye can deteriorate and leak fluid into and under the retina. This causes the retina to swell, which can distort or distort your vision. Or you can develop new, irregular capillaries to rupture and bleed. This also gets worse the vision.
  • Epiretinal membrane. Epiretinal membrane is a delicate as a scar tissue or the membrane that looks like crumpled cellophane lying in the upper part of the retina. This membrane stops in the retina, distorting your vision. Objects may appear blurred or crooked.
  • The Macular hole. A macular hole is a small defect in the center of the retina in the back of the eye, called the macula. The hole can develop from atypical of traction between the retina and the vitreous, or it may follow an injury to the eye.
  • Age-related Macular degeneration. In macular degeneration, the center of the retina begins to deteriorate. This causes symptoms such as blurred central vision or a blind spot in the center of the visual field. There are two types of wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Many people will have the dry form, which can progress to the wet form in one or both eyes.
  • Retinitis pigmentosa. Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited disease of the degenerative disease. Gradually affects the retina and causes the loss of the night and side vision.

Symptoms

Many diseases of the retina to share some of the common symptoms. These may include:

  • See floating spots or cobwebs.
  • Blurred or distorted vision in which straight lines may look wavy.
  • Defects in the lateral view.
  • The loss of vision.

You may have to try each eye only to realize these changes.

When to see a doctor

It is important to pay attention to any changes in your vision and seek attention quickly. Seek medical attention right away if you suddenly have floaters, flashes, or decreased vision. These are warning signs of potentially serious disease of the retina.

Risk factors

The risk factors for diseases of the retina may include:

  • Aging.
  • The habit of smoking.
  • Being obese.
  • Have diabetes or other diseases.
  • Ocular Trauma.
  • A family history of diseases of the retina.

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, an ophthalmologist performs a comprehensive eye exam and looks for irregularities in any place in the eye.

The following tests may be done to determine the location and extent of the disease:

  • Amsler grid test. An ophthalmologist can use an Amsler grid to test the clarity of your central vision. You will be asked whether grid lines appear faded, broken, or deformed. Taking note of the fact that the distortion is in the network can help to understand the degree of damage in the retina. If you have macular degeneration, you can use this quiz to self-monitor their condition at home.
  • The optical coherence tomography (OCT). This test is an excellent technique to capture precise images of the retina. This can help to diagnose epiretinal membranes, macular holes and macular swelling, called edema. You can also monitor the extent of age-related wet macular degeneration and how it is responding to treatment.
  • The autofluorescence of the fundus of the eye (FAF). FAF can be used to determine the stage of retinal diseases, including macular degeneration. FAF stands a pigment of the retina, called lipofuscin, which increases with retinal damage or dysfunction.
  • The fluorescein angiography. This test uses a contrast dye causes the blood vessels in the retina are highlighted under a special light. This helps to identify exactly closed vessels, blood vessels, the new vessels, irregular, and subtle changes in the back of the eye.
  • Indocyanine green angiography. This test uses a contrast dye that lights up when exposed to infrared light. The resulting images show blood vessels of the retina and the deeper, more difficult to see blood vessels behind the retina in a tissue called the choroid.
  • Ultrasound. This test uses high-frequency sound waves, called ultrasound, to help the view of the retina and other structures of the eye. You can also identify certain characteristics of the tissue that can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular tumors.
  • CTandMRI. In rare cases, these imaging methods can be used to help evaluate the injury to the eyes or tumors.

Treatment

The main goal of treatment is to stop or slow down the progression of the disease and to preserve, improve or restore vision. In many cases, the damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed, making early detection is important. Your eye doctor will work with you to decide the best treatment.

The treatment of the disease of the retina can be complex and often urgent. The options include:

  • The use of a laser. Laser surgery can repair a retinal tear or hole. The surgeon uses a laser to heat small dots in the retina. This creates scars that usually binds the retina to the underlying tissue. Immediately the laser treatment of a new retinal tear may decrease the probability of a retinal detachment.
  • Shrinkage of irregular blood vessels. Your eye doctor may use a technique called scatter laser photocoagulation to reduce spot of new blood vessels that are bleeding or the threat of bleeding in the eye. This treatment may help people with diabetic retinopathy. Extensive use of this treatment can cause the loss of some side (peripheral) vision or night.
  • Freezing. In this process, called cryopexy (KRY-o-pek-see), the surgeon applies a freezing probe to the outer wall of the eye to treat a tear in the retina. Intense cold that reaches the inside of the eye and freezes the retina. The area was subsequently treated scar and secure the retina to the eye wall.
  • The injection of air or gas in the eye. This technique, called pneumatic retinopexy (RET-ih-no-pek-see), is used to help in the repair of certain types of retinal detachment. Can be used in combination with cryopexy or laser photocoagulation.
  • The indentation of the surface of your eye. This surgery, called scleral (SKLAIR-ul) buckling, it is used to repair a retinal detachment. Your surgeon sews a small piece of silicone material to the outer surface of the eye, called the sclera. This indentation of the sclera and relieves some of the force caused by the vitreous pulling on the retina and reattaches the retina. This technique can be used with other treatments.
  • The evacuation and replacement of the fluid in the eye.In this procedure, called a vitrectomy (hiv-TREK-tuh-me), the surgeon removes the liquid gel that fills the inside of the eye, called the vitreous humor. Air, gas or liquid, is then injected into the space. Vitrectomy can be used if the bleeding or inflammation of the clouds, the vitreous and blocks of the surgeon of the retina. This technique can be part of the treatment for people with a tear of the retina, diabetic retinopathy, a macular hole, epiretinal membrane, an infection, trauma to the eye or retinal detachment.
  • The injection of a medication into the eye. Your eye doctor may suggest an injection of medicine into the vitreous humor of the eye. This technique can be effective in the treatment of people with wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or the rupture of blood vessels within the eye.
  • The implantation of a retinal prosthesis. People who suffer from vision loss or blindness due to certain inherited disease of the retina, surgery may be needed. A small electrode chip is implanted in the retina that receives input of a video camera in a pair of glasses. The electrode is collected and transmitted to the visual information that the retina is damaged, it cannot process.

The evacuation and replacement of the fluid in the eye. In this procedure, called a vitrectomy (hiv-TREK-tuh-me), the surgeon removes the liquid gel that fills the inside of the eye, called the vitreous humor. Air, gas or liquid, is then injected into the space.

Vitrectomy can be used if the bleeding or inflammation of the clouds, the vitreous and blocks of the surgeon of the retina. This technique can be part of the treatment for people with a tear of the retina, diabetic retinopathy, a macular hole, epiretinal membrane, an infection, trauma to the eye or retinal detachment.

Coping and support

The loss of vision from retinal disease can affect your ability to do things such as reading, recognizing faces, and the drive. These tips can help you to deal with changes in your vision:

  • Ask your eye doctor to verify your prescription eyeglasses. If you wear contact lenses or glasses, make sure your prescription is up to date and at the maximum strength. If a strong pair of glasses does not help, ask for a referral to a specialist in low vision.
  • Prescribed use magnifying glasses. A variety of magnifying devices prescribed by a specialist in low vision can help you with the reading and close work, such as sewing. Such devices include hand lens or magnifying lenses that you wear like glasses. You can also use closed-circuit television system that uses a video camera to extend the range of reading material, and projected on a video screen. Over-the-counter magnifiers may not work as well.
  • Change the screen of the computer and add audio systems. Adjust the size of the source and the monitor contrast settings of your device. Consider the addition of the voice-output systems or other technologies, to your computer.
  • The use of electronic reading aids and the voice interface. Try talking of clocks, watches and calculators; large-print books; tablet computers; and audio books. Some of tablet and smartphone apps are designed to help people with low vision. And many of these devices now come with a voice recognition function.
  • Select special equipment made for low vision. Some clocks, radios, phones, and other devices in very large numbers. You may find that it is easier to watch a television program with a large high-definition screen, or you may want to sit closer to the screen.
  • The use of bright lights in your home. Best lighting helps with reading and other activities of daily living, and can also reduce the risk of falls.
  • Consider your transportation options. If you are driving a vehicle, check with your doctor to see if it is safe to continue doing so. Take special care in certain situations, such as driving at night, in heavy traffic or in adverse weather conditions. Use public transportation, or ask a friend or family member to help. To make arrangements for local pickup or transport services, volunteer management networks, or ride-shares.
  • Get support. Have a retina condition can be difficult, and you may need to make changes in your life. You can go through many emotions as you adjust. Consider talking with a counselor or joining a support group. Spend time with supportive family members and friends.

Preparing for your appointment

To check for the disease of the retina, a dilated eye exam is usually necessary. Make an appointment with a doctor that specializes in eye care — optometrist or an ophthalmologist. He or she can perform a thorough examination of the eyes.

What you can do

Before your appointment:

  • When you make the appointment, ask if you need to do anything to prepare.
  • List of the symptoms that you are experiencing, including any that seem unrelated to your problem of vision.
  • List of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • Ask a family member or friend to accompany you. Have the pupils dilated by the examination of the eyes will affect your vision for a while after that, so you may need someone to drive or accompany you after your appointment.
  • List of questions to ask your doctor.

For diseases of the retina, questions to ask your doctor include:

  • How advanced is my condition?
  • Is it safe for my car?
  • I experience the loss of vision?
  • Can my condition be treated?
  • It's going to take a vitamin or mineral supplement to help prevent the loss of vision?
  • What is the best way to control my vision for the changes?
  • What changes in my symptoms warrant calling?
  • What low vision aids could be useful for me?
  • What lifestyle changes can I do to protect my vision?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice your vision problem?
  • How the condition affects one or both eyes?
  • Do you have trouble seeing things up close, at a distance, or both?
  • Do you smoke or how you smoke? If so, how much?
  • Do you have any other medical problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes?
  • Do you have a family history of diseases of the retina?
  • Has suffered an injury to his eye?
Symptoms and treatment of diseases of the Retina