Retina and Macular Disease

Other Retinal, Macular & Related Conditions

Other retinal, macular and related conditions we diagnose and treat include the following:

Acute Retinal Necrosis

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is an infection of the retina caused by herpes viruses, most often the varicella zoster virus. The disease causes retina cells to die and a high degree of inflammation in the eye. Symptoms can include eye pain, light sensitivity, floaters and flashes, blurred vision, loss of visual clarity or a narrowed visual field. ARN can lead to retinal detachment, vision loss and blindness if left untreated.

Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)

A central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is when the main retinal vein becomes blocked, causing blood and fluid to spill out into the retina. As a result, the macula can swell and affect your central vision. Eventually, without blood circulation, nerve cells in the eye can die, causing more vision loss.

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy, also referred to as CSCR and CSC, is a condition in which fluid accumulates under the retina to cause a serous (fluid-filled) detachment and vision loss. CSCR most often affects young and middle-aged adults and men more than women. Vision loss caused by CSCR is usually temporary but sometimes becomes chronic or recurs.

Choroidal Nevus

Similar to a freckle or mole, a choroidal nevus is darkly pigmented lesion found in the back of the eye. Usually a choroidal nevus does not cause any symptoms and is detected in a routine eye exam. However, sometimes choroidal nevi that form under the macula can cause blurred vision.

Cystoid Macular Edema

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a condition in which multiple cyst-like (cystoid) areas of fluid appear in the macula, causing the retina to swell. CME is a painless condition but can cause blurred or decreased central vision. Although the exact cause of CME is unknown, the condition can accompany other diseases such as retinal vein occlusion, uveitis and diabetes. It most commonly occurs after cataract surgery.

Epiretinal Membrane

An epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a tissue-like scar or membrane that forms on top of the retina, sometimes including the macula. When it forms over the macula, an ERM can cause distortion and blurring of the central vision. ERMs typically occur in people after age 50 and most commonly in adults 75 and older. Various conditions can cause or contribute to an ERM, including diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, retinal detachment or tearing and eye injury.

Floaters and Flashes

Eye floaters (myodesopsias) are shapes – usually squiggly lines, dots or threads – that you may see when you look at a clear sky, a white wall or a blank piece of paper. You may also see flashes of light (photopsias) at the same time you see floaters. Both floaters and flashes occur when the vitreous humor (the gel-like substance in the middle of the eye), lifts up from the surface of the retina and pulls on it, producing tension.

Floaters are solid pieces of the vitreous humor that move around in the liquid vitreous humor. They are like tiny bits of dust stuck on a camera lens: If you try to blink them away or look somewhere else, they will still be there. Floaters are more likely to happen with age and often do not need treatment. If you experience a sudden onset of many floaters or flashes, you should see an eye care provider.

Hypertensive Retinopathy

Hypertensive retinopathy is a condition where long-term high blood pressure causes damage to your retinas. The condition does not cause symptoms until the advanced stages, when you may begin to experience vision loss or other complications. Maintaining your blood pressure at a healthy level with lifestyle changes and medications can help prevent hypertensive retinopathy.

Macular Hole

A macular hole is a small break that forms in your macula. As the hole forms, objects in your central vision begin to look blurry, distorted or wavy. As the hole continues to grow, a dark spot will appear in your central vision. Macular holes are usually caused by aging. As you get older, the vitreous humor starts to shrink and pull away from the retina. Sometime when this happens, the vitreous humor can stick to the retina, causing the macula to stretch and a hole to form. Macular holes can be treated with vitrectomy, a surgical procedure for the removal of some or all of the vitreous humor from the affected eye.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)

A natural change that occurs during adulthood, posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is when the vitreous humor (the gel-like substance in the middle of the eye) separates from the retina, causing floaters and flashes. Symptoms usually ease up over several weeks. PVD isn’t painful or sight-threatening, but if you have symptoms, you should consult an eye doctor to make sure you don’t have another retina condition.

Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN)

Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) is infection of the retina typically caused by the varicella zoster virus. The infection causes tissue death of the outer layers of the retina and eye inflammation. Symptoms can include loss of visual clarity, blurred vision, floaters and flashes, and a narrowed visual field. PORN progresses very rapidly and can lead to retinal detachment, vision loss and blindness if left untreated.

Retinal Artery Occlusion

A retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is when a blood clot or cholesterol builds up and blocks blood flow in one or more of the retina’s arteries. A blockage in the small arteries in the retina is called a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), while a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is when the central artery in the retina becomes blocked. Regarded as a form of a stroke in the eye, a CRAO is a risk factor for having a brain stroke and is considered a medical emergency.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is when the retina separates from the layer of blood vessels at the back of the eye that provides oxygen and nourishment to the eye. Symptoms can include reduced central and side vision and the sudden appearance of dark floating shapes and flashes of light. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. The longer retinal detachment goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye. Contacting an eye doctor as soon as symptoms develop can help save your vision.

Retinal Tear

A retinal tear or break occurs when the gel-like vitreous humor in your eye pulls on your retina and creates a hole. A retinal tear is less serious than retinal detachment, but still needs treatment. Symptoms may include blurry vision and a large amount of eye floaters and flashes. Your eye care provider can repair a retinal tear before it leads to a detached retina.

Retinitis Pigmentosa and Other Chorioretinal Dystrophies

Chorioretinal dystrophies are a group of hereditary eye diseases that affect the retina and/or the choroid. Examples of chorioretinal dystrophies are retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt-Fundus-Flavimaculatus disease, Best vitelliform dystrophy, cone dystrophy and patterned dystrophy. The most common chorioretinal dystrophy is retinitis pigmentosa, which is a group of eye diseases that affect the retina. Retinitis pigmentosa causes cells in the retina to break down slowly over time, leading to vision loss that progresses over the years. The first vision changes associated with the condition usually start in childhood. These early signs and symptoms include problems with night vision and seeing in dim light and blind spots in peripheral vision.

Sickle Cell Retinopathy

Sickle cell retinopathy is an eye disorder that affects some people with sickle cell disease. It is characterized by blockage of blood vessels in the retina and choroid that cause an abnormal growth of blood vessels and a thinning of the retina. Early damage from sickle cell retinopathy usually does not affect vision, but the condition can cause eye problems to develop over time if left untreated.