Common Retinal Diseases

Your retinas are thin layers of tissue on the inside back walls of your eyes. Retinas send information to your brain via your optic nerve, allowing you to see.  The importance of retina health cannot be overstated.  Ignoring the signs of retinal disease can lead to permanent vision loss.

These are three of the most common retinal diseases:

Age-Related Macular Degeneration.  A condition that often affects senior adults and can result in loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula).  It occurs in wet and dry forms and is a leading cause of blindness.

Diabetic Retinopathy.  Diabetic retinopathy develops in people with diabetes, causing progressive damage to the retina, the light sensitive lining at the back of the eye. It is a serious vision-threatening complication of diabetes.  Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina and can lead to blindness. They leak blood and other fluids that cause swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy.

Retinal Detachment. Retinal detachment is just what the name implies. When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its normal position. If not promptly treated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.

For more information on retinal diseases, please contact Associated Retina Consultants in Phoenix at 602.242.4928 or associatedretinaconsultants.com.