Retinal Diseases and Conditions
Macular Degeneration and Related Conditions
Macular degeneration affects the central area of the retina, leading to blurry or distorted vision. Understanding each type helps you recognize symptoms and seek care quickly.
Dry AMD is a slow, progressive thinning of the macula that can advance over many years.
- Early or Intermediate AMD: Mild changes that may not noticeably affect vision.
- Geographic Atrophy: Advanced loss of retinal cells that leads to more significant vision loss.
Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid or blood, causing rapid vision loss.
- Choroidal Neovascularization: Fragile new vessels that leak fluid or blood beneath the retina.
- Disciform Scar: Scarring that forms after bleeding or leakage, which can permanently reduce vision.
Several disorders can accompany or mimic macular degeneration and also harm central vision.
- Degenerative Myopia: Severe nearsightedness that stretches and thins the retina.
- Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Fluid buildup under the retina causing blurred or distorted vision.
- Pathologic Myopia (Myopic Degeneration): Progressive retinal deterioration related to extreme nearsightedness.
Diabetic Retinal Disease
High blood sugar can damage retinal blood vessels, leading to vision-threatening complications if left untreated.
NPDR is the early stage of diabetic eye disease, marked by subtle retinal blood-vessel changes.
- Mild NPDR: Small microaneurysms with little to no vision loss.
- Moderate NPDR: More noticeable vessel damage and retinal changes.
- Severe NPDR: Extensive damage that raises the risk for advanced disease.
PDR is an advanced stage in which new abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina and optic disc.
- Neovascularization of the Disc: Fragile new vessels around the optic nerve.
- Fibrovascular Proliferation: Scar tissue and new vessels that can cause retinal detachment.
Swelling or loss of blood supply in the macula can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy.
- Diabetic Macular Edema: Fluid leakage causes macular swelling and blurred vision.
- Diabetic Macular Ischemia: Reduced blood flow that further impairs central vision.
- Diabetic Papillopathy: Optic disc swelling linked to diabetes that may affect vision.
Therapies for diabetic eye disease are effective but can sometimes produce side effects.
- Post-Panretinal Photocoagulation (PRP) Effects: Possible peripheral light loss after laser treatment.
- Anti-VEGF Complications: Rare inflammation or infection following injection therapy.
Retinal Detachments and Predisposing Conditions
A detached retina occurs when the tissue separates from the back of the eye, and it needs urgent care to save vision.
Primary detachments result from problems within the retina itself.
- Rhegmatogenous Detachment: A tear lets fluid slip under the retina, lifting it away.
- Tractional Detachment: Scar tissue pulls the retina off the eye wall, often in diabetes.
- Exudative Detachment: Fluid accumulates beneath the retina without a tear, often due to inflammation.
Certain retinal weaknesses raise the risk of a future detachment.
- Lattice Degeneration: Peripheral thinning that can develop small tears.
- Giant Retinal Tears: Large breaks that quickly lead to detachment.
- Atrophic Retinal Holes: Small thin spots that may progress to full detachment.
- Horseshoe or Flap Tear: U-shaped tear caused by strong vitreous pulling.
Even after repair, the retina can face challenges during healing.
- Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR): Scar tissue forms and may re-detach the retina.
- Protruding Scleral Buckle: Hardware used in surgery can press on the eye and affect vision.
- Silicone Oil in the Anterior Chamber: Oil used during surgery can migrate forward and need removal.
Injuries or medical procedures sometimes lead to detachment or related damage.
- Choroidal Rupture: Break in the blood-rich layer beneath the retina after blunt trauma.
- Commotio Retinae: Temporary whitening of the retina from impact that can progress to detachment.
- Traumatic Retinal Breaks: Tears from injury that require prompt repair.
- Retained Lens Fragments: Lens pieces left after surgery can irritate the retina.
- Intraocular Lens Dislocation: A shifted implanted lens may stress the retina.
Macular Diseases (Non-Degenerative)
Not all macular problems arise from degeneration; some relate to structure, blood flow, or inflammation.
These conditions alter the physical makeup of the macula.
- Macular Hole: A full-thickness break causing blurry or distorted central vision.
- Lamellar Macular Hole: A partial-thickness defect with milder symptoms.
- Pseudohole: Apparent hole created by tissue contraction rather than an actual break.
- Acute Retinal Pigment Epitheliitis (Krill Disease): Temporary inflammation causing sudden mild vision loss.
Abnormal blood vessels in the macula disturb nutrient flow.
- Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: Dilated leaky vessels that blur or distort vision.
Fluid buildup in the macula leads to swelling and visual distortion.
- Cystoid Macular Edema: Small fluid-filled cysts within the macula.
Sudden-onset macular problems can temporarily impair central vision.
- Acute Exudative Polymorphous Vitelliform Maculopathy: Rapid fluid and yellow deposits under the macula.
- Acute Idiopathic Maculopathy: Sudden vision loss of unknown cause that often improves.
- Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy: Small dark spots in central vision, often after illness.
- Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy: Inflammation causing multiple macular spots and reduced vision.
Vitreoretinal Interface Disorders
These conditions involve the point where the vitreous gel meets the retina and can create traction or deposits.
A slow splitting of retinal layers that is usually stable and rarely harms vision.
The vitreous separates from the retina, commonly causing floaters or flashes that need monitoring.
Protein deposits cloud the vitreous and may reflect systemic disease.
A circular floater forms when the vitreous detaches from the optic nerve head.
Scar tissue on the retinal surface causes wavy or blurred vision and occasionally needs surgery.
The vitreous pulls on the macula, leading to distortion that might require treatment.
Small white deposits float in the vitreous but usually do not disturb vision.
Hereditary and Developmental Eye Issues
Genetic and developmental conditions can alter retinal structure or function from birth or early life.
These disorders mainly affect night and peripheral vision and progress over time.
- Retinitis Pigmentosa: Gradual loss of night and side vision.
- Leber Congenital Amaurosis: Severe vision loss starting at birth.
Central vision and color perception decline first, often followed by peripheral loss.
- Cone-Rod Dystrophy: Reduced sharp vision and color discrimination.
- Achromatopsia: Poor color vision and light sensitivity.
Inherited conditions target the macula, blurring or distorting central sight.
- Stargardt Disease: Progressive central vision loss in youth.
- Best Disease: Early-onset central vision reduction.
- Pattern Dystrophies: Irregular pigment changes that affect vision.
A variety of genetic disorders can damage the retina.
- Choroideremia
- X-linked Juvenile Retinoschisis
- Bietti's Crystalline Retinopathy
- Autosomal Dominant Neovascular Inflammatory Vitreoretinopathy (ADNIV)
- Glycogen Storage Disease Type V (McArdle Disease)
- HANAC Syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Peroxisomal Diseases with Ocular Manifestations
Structural differences form during eye development and may impact vision.
- Chorioretinal Coloboma
- Myelinated Nerve Fibers
- Albinism
Changes at the optic nerve head can disturb signal transmission to the brain.
- Optic Disc Pit
- Prepapillary Vascular Loops
- Optic Disc Drusen
Some multisystem disorders include significant retinal findings.
- Aicardi Syndrome
- Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy
- Microcephaly with Chorioretinopathy
Other Retinal Conditions
Many additional disorders affect the retina’s health, each requiring specific attention.
These affect the blood-vessel layer beneath the retina and can disturb vision.
- Angioid Streaks
- Choroidal Detachment
- Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy
- Chorioretinal Folds
- Choroidal Hemangioma
Growths in or around the retina may be benign or malignant and often need monitoring.
- Benign Lesions: Bear Tracks (CHRPE), Astrocytic Hamartoma, Choroidal Nevus, Congenital Hypertrophy of the RPE, Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and RPE
- Malignant Tumors: Intraocular Melanoma, Retinoblastoma, Metastatic Tumors
- Vascular Tumors and Paraneoplastic Syndromes: von Hippel-Lindau Disease, Retinal Capillary Hemangioma, Retinal Cavernous Hemangioma, Bilateral Diffuse Uveal Melanocytic Proliferation
The immune system can mistakenly attack the retina, sometimes linked to cancer elsewhere in the body.
- Cancer-Associated Retinopathy
- Melanoma-Associated Retinopathy
- Autoimmune Retinopathy
- Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy
- Bilateral Diffuse Uveal Melanocytic Proliferation
Children’s retinal conditions can impact visual development and often benefit from early detection.
- Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy
- Coats’ Disease
- Persistent Fetal Vasculature
Eye injuries can cause immediate or delayed retinal effects that threaten sight.
- Commotio Retinae
- Traumatic Retinal Breaks
- Retained Lens Fragments
- Intraocular Lens Dislocation
- Choroidal Rupture
- Ocular Decompression Retinopathy
Certain drugs have known retinal side effects that require monitoring.
- Hydroxychloroquine Toxicity
- Thioridazine Retinopathy
- Tamoxifen Retinopathy
- Canthaxanthin Retinopathy
- Deferoxamine Retinopathy
- Niacin-Induced Maculopathy
Partnering With Our Retina Care Team
Retinal disease can be complex, but you do not have to face it alone. Our specialists provide comprehensive diagnosis, advanced treatments, and personalized follow-up to safeguard your vision. Whether you need routine monitoring or urgent care, we are here to support you every step of the way.
I was given an emergency appointment with Dr Rho. He looked in my eyes and saw a hole in my retina. I am so thankful to Dr. Rho and his team for making me feel comfortable and at ease.
H.S
Dr. is caring and very knowledgeable about Retina care. He is never to busy to answer my questions. He and his staff possess wonderful people skills and care. They are all very professional.
Frances Harrison
I always feel very confident in Dr. Soll's Evaluaciones and Recommendations. Dr. Rho also gave also gave me a thorough retina exam
Rose Curley
I had an appointment with the retina specialist on Saturday morning. I'm VERY happy with my care there. Office staff was very friendly and Dr was great. I recommend this office.
Joan Schmidt
Dr. Rho is the best retina specialist in the world he saved my eye sight very professional
Karen Hawkins
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