Retina Conditions and Treatment

What is a Retina

You’ll find the retina covering over half of the back of your eye, right near the optic nerve. The retina performs very important jobs in the eye, like receiving light, converting it to a language your brain understands, and then sending the message to your brain to produce a visual image.

Retinal Diseases and Conditions

There are a myriad of potential retina issues including a tear, macular hole, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, or epiretinal membrane. With all of these conditions, early diagnosis and treatment are key for the best outcomes.

Retinal Disease Risk Factors

Although many eye diseases can’t be prevented, there are steps you can take to prevent retinal problems. Risk factors include aging, obesity, smoking, underlying conditions like diabetes, history of eye trauma, and family history of retinal disease. You can reduce your risk by eating well and exercising and quitting if you smoke.

Retinal Disease Symptoms

Though there is a full spectrum of retinal diseases and conditions, the symptoms are all very similar. The appearance of new floaters, vision loss, problems with side vision, and distorted or blurred vision can indicate retinal problems like diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

Retinal Disease Treatment

There are many types of retinal disease, and similarly many treatments. Treatments can include nutritional supplements, laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and more. If you are at risk of retinal disease or over the age of 65, you should be sure to receive an annual ophthalmologic examination.