Before launching into the different types, causes and symptoms of retinal diseases or disorders, a short blurb about your eye retina will help you get a picture of why this part is very important for healthy vision.
Your retina is in the back of your eye and is an extremely fragile transparent membrane composed mostly of nerve cells. These neurons are visual receptors that convert what you see into electrical signals, which are then sent to your brain via the optic nerve.
The retina has two types of light sensitive receptor cells known as rods and cones. Rods respond to shades of grey and movement, which are utilized in dim light. Whereas cones respond to the visible colors and operate best in daylight.
Your macula and fovea are on the retina and is responsible for the sharp central vision to see fine detail. And your cornea focuses images on the retina.
Retinal diseases occur when something causes your retina to malfunction. Most retinal disorders cause a disruption in the transmission of information somewhere between your retina’s neuron receptors and brain.
Following are some retinal diseases and disorders along with their common underlying causes:
- retinopathy
- macular hole, pucker
- retinoblastoma ~ eye cancer
- diabetic retinopathy ~ diabetes
- endophthalmitis ~ eye infection
- macular degeneration ~ age related
- hypertensive retinopathy ~ hypertension
- solar retinopathy ~ looking directly into sun
- retinitis pigmentosa ~ inherited eye disease
- retinal artery blockage ~ embolism, giant cell arteritis
- retinal hemorrhage ~ shaken baby, trauma, retinopathy, hypertension
- retinal detachment ~ trauma, diabetes, sarcoidosis, cytomegalovirus retinitis
Several types of retinal diseases and disorders are primary causes of blindness because retina damage is often irreversible.
The symptoms of retinal disorders will vary depending on the type of retinal disease you have. But generally you may experience vision problem symptoms of:
- nystagmus
- photophobia
- night blindness
- sudden vision loss
- loss of peripheral vision
- trouble adjusting to light changes
- vision loss in a particular visual field
If you experience any of these symptoms or changes in sharpness, color perception, light flashes, floaters and distortions, then you need a retinal exam ASAP. The type of health care provider that does this are ophthalmologists.