The retina is a layer of cells located at the rear of the eye that takes light rays that enter the eye and changes them into visual impulses. This layer of cells can be affected by several conditions that can impact the vision of the patient. Many of the most common diseases can lead to a loss of vision if not treated promptly.
Retinal Detachment
Most retinal detachments or tears involve changes in the vitreous. The vitreous is the jelly-like substance inside the back of the eye; this substance is firmly attached to the retina in several locations as noted on the Clemson Eye website. As a person ages, the vitreous contracts and can pull on the retina--causing either a tear or a detachment in the retina. If not treated, a retinal detachment can lead to devastating visual loss.
Macular Degeneration
In age-related macular degeneration, the central portion of the retina--the part that controls clear vision--is damaged, causing a blind spot or blurry vision. There are two forms of this disease; wet macular degeneration causes more rapid loss of vision than the dry version. This condition is more common in people above the age of 50, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Diabetic Retinopathy
A complication of diabetes is the development of damage to the blood vessels in the retina. In one type of diabetic retinopathy the blood vessels in the retina leak, causing changes in vision. In the more advanced type, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the retina begins to grow its own blood vessels, which can break and bleed into the vitreous. Both types of retinopathy can cause significant visual loss. If the patient has had diabetes for a long period of time or has poor glucose control, the patient has a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, as noted on the MayoClinic.com website.
Retinal Artery Occlusion
Another common retinal problem is the blockage of the main artery or a branch of the artery that supplies the retina with blood called a retinal artery occlusion. The blockage can be caused by either a blood clot or by a piece of plaque that gets lodged in the artery. According to the Harvard Health Publications website, the retinal cells that should be supplied by the blocked vessel begin to die; this can cause a devastating amount of visual loss.
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal vein occlusions are another common retinal problem. as noted on the Harvard Health Publications. When the retinal veins that carry blood away from the eye get blocked, the blood leaks back into the retina and causes damage in the affected area. This condition can lead to minimal or significant visual loss related to the size of the blood vessel and the area of the retina affected.
