Retinal diseases are the leading cause of blindness in low-income regions and the second leading cause in high-income regions.
Several types of retinal illnesses have been identified. Some are inherited and passed down from generation to generation, while others are caused by gradual damage to the retina.
The retina, a thin layer of tissue, lines the inner surface of the eye’s back wall. It contains various types of nerve cells, including rods and cones. These are light-sensitive cells that receive and organize visual data. The optic nerve transmits data directly related to the vision from the retina to the brain. Certain retinal diseases can cause severe vision loss or even blindness if left untreated.
This post discusses some of the most prevalent retinal diseases. The retinal disease symptoms and treatment options are also highlighted in this post.
So, let’s dive in to explore retinal disease treatment and symptoms.
Retinal Diseases
Numerous causes lead to retinal diseases. These include:
- A direct injury to the retinal tissue, such as a retinal tear
- The effects of other diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy
- Inherited diseases, such as Stargardt disease
- Progressive changes, such as age-related macular degeneration
Below are the most common risk factors for retinal diseases:
- Diabetes
- Aging
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Eye trauma
- Genetic issues or family history
The following are some of the common retinal diseases:
1. Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can damage the capillaries at the back of the eye, allowing fluid to flow into and under the retina. It causes the retina to enlarge, making it difficult to see or blurring your vision. You may also have abnormal capillaries that are easily broken and bleed easily, causing blurry vision.
2. Macular Hole
It is a small defect in the macula, the retina’s central portion at the back of the eye. A hole may have formed in the eye’s retina due to trauma or abnormal pulling between the retina and the vitreous.
Related Article: All You Need To Know About Macular Hole Stages and Surgery
3. Macular Degeneration
It is a condition that damages the macula and results in a blind spot or hazy vision in the center of the field of vision. Two types of macular degeneration include dry macular and wet macular. Most people will begin with the dry form of the disease, but either eye may progress to the wet form.
4. Retinal Tear
When the vitreous, a gel-like substance in the eye, shrinks, it exerts enough strain on the retina to cause vitreous detachment. It occurs when the vitreous shrinks. Symptoms like flashing lights frequently accompany it a lot of the time.
5. Retinal Detachment
The presence of fluid beneath the retina is indicative of a retinal detachment. Typically, this occurs when fluid escapes from a tear in the retina and separates the retina from the underlying layers of tissue.
6. Epiretinal Membrane
The epiretinal membrane is a thin membrane or scar that rests on the retina and resembles fragile tissue. The membrane’s upward pull to the retina impairs vision, making objects appear fuzzy or crooked.
7. Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited degenerative disease that affects the retina. It causes gradual but progressive vision loss, particularly at night.
Retinal Diseases Symptoms
Some of the common retinal disease symptoms include:
- Vision loss
- Vision defects
- Vision distortion
You must see a physician immediately if you suddenly start having floaters, vision loss, and other eye issues. These symptoms could indicate a retinal detachment or another serious retinal disease. Both of these conditions can result in blindness if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
An ophthalmologist will inquire about your medical and family history to determine whether you have a retinal disease. After that, they will conduct a thorough examination of your eyes.
During the eye exam, your retina will be examined using a slit-lamp microscope or an indirect ophthalmoscopy procedure. They may use eye drops to enlarge your pupil to examine the interior of your eye.
Retinal imaging is also performed to detect eye issues. These tests include tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein angiography.
Retinal Disease Treatment
The primary objective of retinal disease treatment is to prevent or slow the progression of the disease, along with preserving, improving, and restoring vision.
Since prior damage is frequently irreversible, it is impossible to overstate the importance of early detection. The doctor can determine the optimal treatment for you with early detection, which is possible with regular screening, as also offered at HG Analytics.
Retinal illnesses can be difficult to treat and must be treated immediately. Among the treatment options are:
1. Laser
A retinal tear or hole can be repaired using laser surgery. The surgeon uses a laser to heat specific regions of the retina selectively. If a new retinal tear is immediately repaired with a laser, the likelihood that the tear may cause the retina to detach is reduced.
2. Freezing
Cryopexy is used to repair a retina tear. During this procedure, the eye doctor will use a probe to freeze the eye’s surface since the intense cold penetrates the eye and reaches its core, and the retina freezes. Over time, the treated area will scar, connecting the retina to the eye’s wall.
3. Shrinking
The surgeon may use scatter laser photocoagulation to reduce the size of abnormal blood vessels bleeding into the eye. This treatment could benefit diabetic retinopathy patients.
4. Medicine Administration
The drug is administered via intraocular injection directly into the vitreous portion of the eye. The approach assists patients suffering from wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or ruptured blood vessels in the eye.
5. Implantation of a Retinal Prosthesis
Those who have lost significant vision or are blind due to a retinal genetic disorder may require surgery. A tiny electrode chip is surgically implanted in the retina to receive data from a video camera built into a pair of glasses. Since the retina has been damaged, it cannot utilize the visual data that the electrode transmits to the brain.
Conclusion
Retinal diseases are diseases that can damage the retina. The retina comprises specialized layers of cells that convert light into electrical messages for the brain. Numerous conditions can damage the retina. Some disorders result from genes passed down from parents, while others result from gradual retinal degeneration.
You must consult a physician as soon as you experience retinal disease symptoms like blurred vision, floaters, or other eye issues. Early detection and treatment of retinal disorders offer the highest chance of recovery.
At HG Analytics, we provide retinal exams that comprehensively check your eye health to assess any signs of eye diseases. Our state-of-art retinal imaging allows us to detect early warning signals of eye disorders. It is essential to detect issues early, so they do not worsen and cause more complications.
Our retinal exam is the only method for diagnosing retinopathy in its early stages before vision loss occurs. High-resolution images are employed to examine your retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels in the eyes to look for any anomalies that could indicate the presence of a disease. So, book your appointment now to check your eyes.
To set up a consultation, please fill out the form.
