Suﬀering from these symptoms?
Partial loss of vision
Inability to see in dim light
Blurred or distorted vision
Which retinal conditions occur commonly?
The retina may be affected by various conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinal disease, retinal haemorrhages and retinal detachment. Most of these conditions present with variable visual loss, depending on the severity of the problem.
How are these treated?
The treatment will depend on the specific cause. If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, then seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Make an appointment
Come and see us to discuss your concerns with one of our specialists.
More about Retinal Conditions, Retinal Diseases & FAQ’s
What are Retinal Diseases?
There are several different kinds of retinal diseases and/or conditions.
Most of these diseases will cause some kind of vision abnormality or disturbance, which is often the first sign of ailing optic health.
Retinal disease refers to diseases of the retina, or the thin layer of tissue on the inside back wall of the eye.
What does my retina do?
The retina is crucial to sight. It is the portion of the eye that contains millions of tiny rods and cones that essentially translate the reflection of light off objects into what your brain perceives as “sight”.
In other words, without these little photosensitive cells functioning optimally, your vision will be impaired, as your eye cannot tell your brain what you are “seeing” without the help of the retina.
Your retina receives and processes the information (light), and sends it on to the brain for analysis via the optic nerve.
When the retina is providing substandard or confusing information, the brain isn’t capable of deciphering the correct message, and so you cannot “see” properly.
When you have retinal disease and your retina isn’t conveying adequate information to the brain, you may perceive your vision as being negatively affected.
Sufferers of various retinal diseases have reported visual symptoms such as:
- Seeing “dust particles” or cobwebs in your field of vision
- Blurred vision
- Optic distortions (lines you know to be straight look wavy)
- Loss of vision
- Loss of peripheral vision
When should I see my doctor?
It is best practice to see your optometrist should you experience any abrupt or severe changes in your visual acuity.
While the cause may prove benign, or the symptom transient, it is always best to consult your physician about changes in your ability to see, so as to rule out retinal disease or injury.
What are the most common types of retinal disease & are they treatable?
Common retinal diseases or conditions include:
- A retinal tear
A retinal tear refers to an injury of the soft tissues which make up the retina.
The retina is the back portion or wall of the eye, but it is attached to the front “gel-like” portion of the eye, and if there is too much tension created between these two layers, the retinal layer can tear.
A retinal tear is associated with a sudden onset of symptoms including seeing flashing lights and floaters.
A retinal tear is easily treatable if caught early and should have no lasting negative impact on visual acuity.
- Retinal Detachment
In comparison to a retinal tear, a retinal detachment is almost always associated with permanent vision loss.
While treatment, including a variety of surgical options, is available,most patients unfortunately do not recover their full sight.
A retinal tear can lead to a retinal detachment if treatment is delayed, as a retinal detachment typically occurs when the ocular fluid passes through a retinal tear and causes the retina to completely detach from the underlying tissue.
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Those diagnosed with diabetes are at increased risk for the degeneration of the tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, that carry oxygen-rich blood to your eyes.
When these capillaries deteriorate, they can start to leak and this build-up of fluid can cause the retina to swell, blurring or distorting your vision.
In this case, prevention is better than cure, and treating your diabetes is your best bet to prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy.
- Epiretinal membrane
An epiretinal membrane is a thin piece of tissue, almost like scar tissue, that develops on top of the retina. It looks like a piece of crinkled cellophane, and distorts your vision accordingly.
Surgical correction is possible, and about 75% of patients experience an improvement in their visual acuity post-surgery when compared to their symptomatic vision.
- Macular hole
The macula is responsible for the sharpest portion of your vision.
It is in the centre of the retina, and sometimes a hole can develop in the macula as a result of injury to the eye, or as a result of traction between the retina and the vitreous.
Macular holes can be corrected surgically, and most patients’ vision improves again post-surgery.
- Macular degeneration
Similar to a macular hole, macular degeneration occurs when the central portion of the retina begins to deteriorate.
This can cause a blind spot in your vision, among other vision changes.
There are two kinds of macular degeneration – wet, and dry.
Most cases begin as dry degeneration, and can progress to wet degeneration if left untreated.
Laser surgical, as well as less invasive treatment options are available to try and halt the progress of the disease and maintain or restore sight.
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
Also called rod cone dystrophy, this is a genetic, degenerative disease of the retina.
Symptoms often begin in early childhood and treatment for this disease is limited to taking reasonable steps to preserve rather than improve a patient’s vision.
There is currently no cure for retinitis pigmentosa.
What increases my risk of retinal disease?
Smoking, diabetes, eye injury, and aging all increase your risk of developing retinal disease.
Some retinal diseases have also proven to have a genetic component, so a family history of retinal disease may increase your personal risk of developing one.
For more information on Retinal Conditions, you can visit any of the sites listed below. Alternatively, or if you are actively seeking diagnosis and/or treatment, you can contact The Eye Centre directly to book your consultation with one of our resident ophthalmologists – because we care about eye care.
Retinal Diseases – by Mayo Clinic
Je, una dalili hizo? Kupoteza sehemu ya maono Kutokuwa na uwezo wa kuona katika mwanga dhaifu Maono yasiyoeleweka au yaliyopotoka Ni hali zipi za retina zinazotokea kwa kawaida? Retina inaweza kuathiriwa na hali mbalimbali, kama vile degeneration ya macular inayohusiana na umri (AMD), ugonjwa wa retina ya kisukari, kutokwa na damu ya retina na kutenganishwa kwa retina. Hali nyingi hizo huonyesha upotezaji wa uwezo wa kuona, ikitegemea uzito wa tatizo hilo. Hizi hutendewaje? Matibabu yatategemea kisababishi hususa. Ikiwa una dalili yoyote iliyoorodheshwa hapo juu, tafuta matibabu haraka iwezekanavyo. Kufanya miadi kuja na sisi kujadili wasiwasi wako na mmoja wa wataalamu wetu. Zaidi kuhusu Hali za Retina, Magonjwa ya Retina na Maswali ya Mara kwa Mara Magonjwa ya Retina ni nini? Kuna aina kadhaa tofauti za magonjwa ya retina na au hali. Kwa kawaida, ugonjwa huu husababisha kasoro za kuona, ambayo mara nyingi ni ishara ya kwanza ya afya mbaya ya macho. Ugonjwa wa retina ni ugonjwa unaosababishwa na sehemu ya ndani ya jicho inayoitwa retina, ambayo ni sehemu ya ndani ya jicho. Retina yangu inafanya nini? Retina ni muhimu sana kwa uwezo wa kuona. Sehemu ya jicho yenye mamilioni ya vijiti vidogo na koni ambazo hufafanua mwangaza unaorudiwa na vitu katika kile ubongo unachoona kuwa macho. Kwa maneno mengine, bila seli hizi ndogo za photosensitive kufanya kazi vizuri, maono yako yatadhoofika, kwani jicho lako haliwezi kumwambia ubongo wako kile unacho <unk>ona<unk> bila msaada wa retina. Retina yako hupokea na kusindika habari (nuru), na kuipeleka kwenye ubongo kwa ajili ya uchambuzi kupitia neva ya macho. Wakati retina ni kutoa chini ya kiwango au kuchanganyikiwa habari, ubongo si uwezo wa deciphering ujumbe sahihi, na hivyo huwezi <unk>kuona<unk> vizuri. Unapokuwa na ugonjwa wa retina na retina yako haipewi habari za kutosha kwa ubongo, unaweza kuona maono yako kuwa yameathiriwa vibaya. Wagonjwa wa magonjwa mbalimbali ya retina wameripoti dalili za kuona kama vile: - Kuona "chembe za vumbi" au mawingu ya buibui katika uwanja wako wa kuona - Maono yasiyo wazi - Uharibifu wa macho (masharti unayojua kuwa ni ya moja kwa moja) - Kupoteza maono - Kupoteza maono ya pembeni Ni lini niende kwa daktari wangu? Ni bora kuona daktari wako wa macho ikiwa utapata mabadiliko yoyote ya ghafla au makubwa katika uwezo wako wa kuona. Ingawa sababu inaweza kuwa mbaya, au dalili ya muda mfupi, ni bora daima kushauriana na daktari wako kuhusu mabadiliko katika uwezo wako wa kuona, ili kuondoa ugonjwa wa retina au jeraha. Ni aina gani za magonjwa ya retina zinazopatikana kwa wingi na je, yanaweza kutibiwa? Matatizo ya retina ni pamoja na: - A retinal tear A retinal tear inahusu jeraha la tishu laini ambazo huunda retina. Retina ni sehemu ya nyuma au ukuta wa jicho, lakini imeunganishwa na sehemu ya mbele ya jeli, na ikiwa kuna mvutano mwingi sana kati ya tabaka hizi mbili, tabaka la retina linaweza kupasuka. Mvunjiko wa retina huhusishwa na dalili za ghafula ikiwa ni pamoja na kuona taa za kung'aa na floaters. Mvunjiko wa retina unaweza kutibiwa kwa urahisi ikiwa unagunduliwa mapema na haupaswi kuwa na athari mbaya ya kudumu kwenye uwezo wa kuona. - Kutenganishwa kwa retina Ikilinganishwa na kupasuka kwa retina, kutenganishwa kwa retina karibu sikuzote huhusianishwa na kupoteza maono kwa kudumu. Ingawa matibabu, kutia ndani chaguzi mbalimbali za upasuaji, yanapatikana, kwa kusikitisha wagonjwa wengi hawawezi kupata uwezo wao wa kuona kikamili. Matatizo ya retina yanaweza kusababisha kutenganishwa kwa retina ikiwa matibabu yanacheleweshwa, kwani kutenganishwa kwa retina kwa kawaida hutokea wakati umajimaji wa jicho unapopita kupitia kutenganishwa kwa retina na kusababisha retina kutenganishwa kabisa na tishu ya chini. - Retinopathy ya kisukari - Watu walio na ugonjwa wa kisukari wana hatari kubwa ya kuharibika kwa mishipa midogo ya damu, inayoitwa capillaries, ambayo hubeba damu yenye oksijeni nyingi hadi macho yako. Wakati mishipa hii ya nywele inapoanza kuharibika, inaweza kuanza kuvuja na mkusanyiko huu wa umajimaji unaweza kusababisha retina kuvimba, kusababisha maono yako kuwa magumu au kupotosha. Katika hali hii, kuzuia ni bora kuliko kutibu, na kutibu ugonjwa wako wa kisukari ni mbinu bora ya kuzuia maendeleo ya retinopathy ya kisukari. - Epiretinal membrane Epiretinal membrane ni kipande nyembamba cha tishu, karibu kama tishu ya kidonda, ambayo huendelea juu ya retina. Inaonekana kama kipande cha cellophane crinkled, na distorts maono yako ipasavyo. Upasuaji wa upasuaji wa macho unaweza kuwa na matokeo mazuri, na karibu asilimia 75 ya wagonjwa hupata uboreshaji wa uwezo wao wa kuona baada ya upasuaji, ikilinganishwa na uwezo wao wa kuona wa dalili. Makula ni sehemu ya macho yako yenye kuona kwa makini zaidi. Matokeo yake ni kwamba, wakati mwingine, kunaweza kutokea shimo katika macula kutokana na jeraha la jicho au kwa sababu ya mvuto kati ya retina na vitreous. Mashimo ya macular yanaweza kurekebishwa kwa upasuaji, na macho ya wagonjwa wengi huboreshwa tena baada ya upasuaji. - Uharibifu wa rangi ya manjano Sawa na shimo la rangi ya manjano, uharibifu wa rangi ya manjano hutokea wakati sehemu ya kati ya retina inapoanza kuharibika. Hii inaweza kusababisha doa kipofu katika maono yako, miongoni mwa mabadiliko mengine ya maono. Kuna aina mbili za degeneration macular <unk> mvua, na kavu. Matukio mengi huanza kama degeneration kavu, na inaweza kuendelea kwa degeneration mvua kama kushoto untreated. Upasuaji wa laser, pamoja na chaguzi za matibabu zisizo na uvamizi, zinapatikana kujaribu na kuzuia maendeleo ya ugonjwa na kudumisha au kurudisha maono. - Retinitis Pigmentosa Pia huitwa rod cone dystrophy, hii ni ugonjwa wa urithi, wa kuharibika kwa retina. Dalili mara nyingi huanza katika utoto wa mapema na matibabu ya ugonjwa huu ni mdogo kwa kuchukua hatua za busara ili kuhifadhi badala ya kuboresha maono ya mgonjwa. Kwa sasa hakuna tiba ya retinitis pigmentosa. Ni nini kinachonifanya niwe na hatari ya kupatwa na ugonjwa wa retina? Kuvuta sigara, ugonjwa wa kisukari, kuumia kwa jicho, na kuzeeka huongeza hatari ya kupatwa na ugonjwa wa retina. Kwa sababu magonjwa ya retina yana sehemu ya urithi, historia ya familia ya ugonjwa wa retina inaweza kuongeza hatari yako ya kuugua. Kwa habari zaidi juu ya Hali za Retina, unaweza kutembelea tovuti yoyote iliyoorodheshwa hapa chini. Kama mbadala, au kama wewe ni kikamilifu kutafuta utambuzi na au matibabu, unaweza kuwasiliana na Kituo cha Jicho moja kwa moja kuweka ushauri wako na mmoja wa wataalamu wetu wa macho wakazi <unk> kwa sababu sisi huduma ya macho. Magonjwa ya retina <unk> na Mayo Clinic