Retinal Disorders
The retina is a transparent layer of light-sensing tissue in the back of your eye that sends images to your brain. In the center of this nerve tissue is the macula. It provides the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, seeing fine detail and color. The peripheral area of the retina, which surrounds the macula, contains photoreceptor cells called rods which respond to lower light levels but are not color sensitive. The rods are responsible for peripheral vision and night vision.
Retinal disorders affect this vital tissue. Retina disorders can affect the way that you process visual information and lead to distorted or absent vision. Some can be serious enough to cause blindness. Examples of retinal disorders are:
- Macular Degeneration – a disease that destroys your sharp, central vision
- Diabetic Retinopathy – a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina
- Retinal Detachment – a medical emergency, when the retina is pulled away from the back of the eye
- Retinoblastoma – cancer of the retina, most common in young children
- Macular Pucker – scar tissue on the macula
- Macular Hole – a small break in the macula that usually affects people over 60
- Floaters – cobwebs or specks in your field of vision
- Retinal Vein Occlusion – blockage of one of the veins returning blood from your retina back to your heart
Retinal disorders are often diagnosed and treated by an ophthalmologist. During a retinal examination in Phoenix, your ophthalmologist puts drops in the eye to dilate the pupil. This allows the retina to be seen in much more detail with ophthalmoscopy (shining a light through a magnifying lens and into the back of the eye).
To schedule a retinal exam with one of our ophthalmologists, contact Associated Retina Consultants at 602-242-4928 or associatedretinaconsultants.com.