Adult Retina Conditions

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is a serious, vision-threatening condition. A detached retina occurs when the retina separates from the layer of supporting tissue underneath. It can lead to vision impairment, temporary vision loss, and, if untreated, permanent vision loss. You can learn more by reviewing the frequently asked questions below.

  • What causes a retinal detachment?

    • In many cases, a detached retina is the result of a small tear in the retina, which can be caused

      by trauma, traction, pulling forces by the eye’s gel (known as the vitreous), scar tissue from

      conditions such as diabetes, or it may even happen spontaneously. The tear allows the vitreous

      fluid to get behind the retina, separating it from supporting tissue.

  • What are the symptoms of a retinal detachment?

    • Flashes of light

    • Floaters

    • Shadows in visual field

    • Partial blindness

    • Blurred vision

  • Who is at risk for a detached retina?

    • You may be at an elevated risk for detached retina if:

      • You have a family history of detached retina

      • You are very nearsighted

      • You have suffered eye or head trauma

      • You have been diagnosed with degeneration of the retina

      • You have had diabetes for a prolonged period of time, particularly if you have poor glucose control

    • Regular visits to an eye doctor are crucial for people with these risk factors. Often, a tear or small retinal detachment can be detected and corrected before it causes permanent vision loss.

  • Can a detached retina be prevented?

    • Generally, the answer is no. Some patient have lattice degeneration, which is a thinning of some areas of the retina; in these situations, laser treatment may prevent a retinal detachment. However, in most cases, there is no prevention for a retinal detachment.

    • Early detection and treatment can prevent damage to your vision. In addition, early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve the chances of preserving vision and preventing complications associated with retinal detachment.

  • What treatment options are available?

    • Fortunately, treatment options exist, and tend to be successful in maintaining and restoring a significant amount of vision following a retinal detachment.

    • At the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana, we offer several treatment options:

      • Laser retina repair

      • Pneumatic retinopexy

      • Vitrectomy

      • Scleral buckle

    • For more information about these treatment options, please see our Retina Treatments page.

Retinal tear

A retinal tear involves a break or opening in the retina, allowing fluid to pass underneath the retina causing it to separate from the wall of the eye. A retinal tear could potentially lead to a retinal detachment if left untreated. A retinal tear or detachment is painless, but may result in:

  • Flashes of light

  • Floaters

  • Shadows in visual field

  • Partial blindness

  • Blurred vision

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes-related complication that affects the eyes. It occurs when high levels of blood sugar (glucose) damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy:

Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR):
This is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy. In NPDR, the small blood vessels at the back of the eye inflate, creating pouches that deform the retina. This can result in swelling under the macula, the highly sensitive area at the center of the retina, which can cause blurred vision or vision loss.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR):
This is the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy and is more severe than NPDR. In PDR, new blood vessels begin to grow on the surface of the retina or into the vitreous gel. These new vessels are fragile and prone to bleeding, leading to the formation of scar tissue. The growth of scar tissue can cause the retina to detach, leading to severe vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age men and women. You can learn more by reviewing the frequently asked questions below.

  • What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

    • The symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can vary depending on the stage of the condition. In the early stages, you may not experience noticeable symptoms. As diabetic retinopathy progresses, the following symptoms may occur:

      • Blurred or distorted vision

      • Floaters

      • Blood floating in the eye

      • Sudden vision changes

  • What are the treatments for diabetic retinopathy?

    • Laser is a commonly used treatment for diabetic retinopathy. This can involve focal laser therapy to directly seal abnormal blood vessels or panretinal photocoagulation, which treats and shrinks abnormal blood vessels.

    • Medications like steroids (including triamcinolone) or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor (VEGFI) therapies such as Avastin, Lucentis, Vabysmo or Eylea may be utilized.

    • If significant bleeding, scarring, or retinal detachment occur, or if the retinal swelling does not respond to laser and medication, then surgery may be performed to stabilize or sometimes improve vision.

    • For more information about treatment options, please see our Retina Treatments page.

  • What can I do to reduce my risk for visual loss from diabetic retinopathy?

    • It’s important to note that diabetic retinopathy often progresses without noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, regular eye exams are crucial. Maintaining steady levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides, coupled with avoiding smoking, lowers the risk of eye-related issues.

Macular degeneration

The macula is the central part of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The macula is responsible for sharp, central vision which is essential for activities like reading, driving and recognizing faces.

Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a condition that occurs with aging and can lead to loss of sharp, central vision.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of poor vision among Americans over the age of 65.

There are two main types of macular degeneration:

Dry AMD (Non-neovascular AMD)
This is the more common form of macular degeneration, accounting for about 80-90% of cases. It is characterized by a breakdown in the light-sensitive cells of the macula. Over time, this can result in gradual central vision loss.

Wet AMD (Neovascular AMD)
Wet AMD is more severe and tends to progress more rapidly. Wet AMD develops over time in up to 10-20% of patients that have dry AMD. Wet AMD occurs when new blood vessels form under the macula, then begin to leak blood and fluid, which can lead to irreversible vision loss if not treated early or if not responsive to treatment.

Symptoms
Macular degeneration often has no symptoms before significant vision loss, so the only way to catch problems early and hopefully prevent vision loss due to macular degeneration is with regular eye exams and early treatment.

Everyone over the age of 50 is at a risk for macular degeneration, but your risk may be increased if you:

  • Smoke or are a former smoker

  • Have a family history of macular degeneration

  • Are obese

  • Are of Caucasian ancestry

  • Have a diet low in certain nutrients like vitamins C and E, zinc and carotenoids

Treatment
In the past, there was no treatment available for macular degeneration, but now, the condition can be treated. If detected early enough, vision loss can be prevented or significantly delayed.

Early stages of macular degeneration are treated with vitamins. The National Eye Institute did a large study proving the AREDS2 formula vitamins, commonly available at supermarkets and drugstores, reduce the risk for converted to advanced macular degeneration by about 25%.

In the more advanced stages of macular degeneration where abnormal blood vessels are growing and leaking, treatment options include laser, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition (anti-VEGF). Among these, anti-VEGF drugs stand out as the latest and most impactful in halting the disease’s progression. Remarkably, anti-VEGF drugs not only consistently impede the advancement of the condition, but also facilitate visual improvement in many patients. Prominent anti-VEGF drugs include bevacizumab (Avastin®), ranibizumab (Lucentis®), aflibercept (Eylea®), and a more recently developed drug called faricimab (Vabysmo®), that may have more efficacy due to targeting both VEGF and the angiopoietin molecular cascade.

Retina Health Fact Sheets

The Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists offers condition-specific webpages and printable facts sheets on nearly 40 retinal conditions.

Click the link below to visit their website. The fact sheets are located on the right-hand side of the page.