Have you noticed any changed in your vision lately? Do you see spots, or floaters? Do you have double vision?
All these symptoms may be caused by something as simple as old age, or exhaustion, but if you feel like these symptoms are not going away, and are worsening, and overall quality of your vision is decreasing, your retina might be damage. Retinal damage may result in vision issues, and if left untreated can cause blindness.
Retina is a layer of tissue that is very thin at the back of your eye on the inside. It contains cells that are sensitive to light (rods and cones) and other cells that receive and send information to brain (via optic nerve) and this way you are able to see things.
This retina might be damaged in some diseases, which if left untreated may result in vision loss. Some risk factors that make you susceptible to retinal disorders are old age, smoking, obesity, having diabetes, eye trauma, or if you have someone in your family who has a history of retinal damage diseases.
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Symptoms of retinal damage:
- Dim Vision
It is when you do not see objects as clear as you earlier would. The images you see will began to be less contrasted, less sharp.
- Flashing Lights
These are light spots that you might see in your usual visual field. Some people describe this as seeing shooting stars, that come from within your eyes, not from external source.
- Double Vision
This is when you see two instead of one, and is known as Diplopia in medical terminology. It is usually seen in one eye, and is known as monocular diplopia. This cane be because of non-serious reasons as well, but once it starts to happen in both the eyes, it is most likely something serious.
Other symptoms might be where your vision is blurred, you see wavy lines, you see lines, and your general power of vision decreases.
In case of any such symptom, always try to visit a doctor as soon as soon, particularly if these symptoms are worsening.
Types of retinal diseases:
RETINAL TEAR
This might be caused by an injury to eye, or if you have myopia (short sightedness), if you have a family history of detachment of retina, or if you have undergone an eye surgery.
Symptoms of retinal tear are:
- Floaters of black spots in vision.
- Flashing lights or photopsia.
- Blurred vision.
- Blurred vision.
Whenever you see any such symptom, visit a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Even though retinal tears do not cause vision loss, but it can progress to retinal detachment if left untreated which does cause vision loss.
RETINAL DETACHMENT
This is when this thin layer in your eye, known as retina, detaches. This causes the layer to be devoid of blood and oxygen as it separates retinal cells from the choroid layer (that provides blood and nourishment to retina). If this condition is left untreated, it may progress to complete and permanent vision loss.
Symptoms of retinal detachment include:
- Sudden onset of seeing floaters (tiny particles seen in vision).
- Flashing lights (in one or both eyes)- also known as photopsia.
- Blurred vision.
- Reduced peripheral or side vision.
- Shadow over field of vision.
It is a medical emergency and must be diagnosed and treated at earliest so as to save a person from its dangerous complication- permanent vision loss.
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
If you are someone who suffers from Diabetes, be it type 1 or 2, and you blood sugar is not in control, this might lead to retina damage. When too much sugar remains in your blood, it may block the vessels that supply nourishment and oxygen to your retina, causing damage to it, condition which is known as diabetic retinopathy.
Other than controlled blood sugar, other risk factors that make you susceptible to diabetic retinopathy are prolonged diabetes, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, pregnancy, and tobacco use.
Diabetic retinopathy other than causing retinal detachment can cause other serious complications including vitreous hemorrhage, glaucoma, or blindness.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Blurred vision.
- Dark spots or empty spots in vision.
- Vision loss.
RETINOBLASTOMA
It is an eye cancer which is present in retina itself. It affects children usually, but can affect adults rarely. It can occur in one eye, or both the eyes.
It is a genetic disease, and is passed to children from their parents. Those who have this genetic form of cancer are at a greater risk of getting other cancers in coming years after treatment of retinoblastoma (especially a type of brain tumor called pineoblastoma).
Symptoms of retinoblastoma include:
Retinoblastoma is usually asymptomatic, which means children do not experience from any symptoms as such, but in case symptoms are seen:
- Eye swelling.
- Redness of eye.
- Weak vision.
- Eyes that look in different ways.
- White color in center of eye when light is shone in eye.
MACULAR HOLE
Macula is an area in the center of the retina, if there is a gap in this area you will suffer from retinal damage.
It is not known why does this happen, but is most commonly seen in people of 60-80 years of age, and mostly in women.
This condition may be associated with retinal detachment, injury to eye, hyperopic, myopic, if you have the swelling of retina.
Initially, you may experience blurred vision, may see wavy lines, or have trouble reading small letters. After this it is gradually progress to seeing black spots in center of vision. This condition doesn’t lead to permanent vision loss, and surgery is required to treat it.
HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY
If you have hypertension, and is not controlled, you might have to face retinal damage. When blood pressure remains increased, it causes your vessels to shrink, thereby not letting enough nutrition and oxygen reach your retina. In medical terminology, this condition can also be called hypertensive retinopathy.
RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
It is sued for a group of diseases related to eyes that can retinal damage, and result in vision loss. The first symptom that many with retinitis pigmentosa experience is night vision loss. It starts gradually, and may progress to complete vision loss (usually by the age of 40).
To get this condition diagnosed, you may need to undergo a few tests. Some of these tests are ophthalmoscopy, visual field test, electroretinogram, and genetic tests. If you know one or more of your family members have retinitis pigmentosa, you will have to undergo genetic screening.
MACULAR DEGENERATION
It gets worse with time and with age. It is most common and important cause of permanent vision loss in people aged 60 or more. It usually happens when you get older, and hence is called Age-related macular generation.
There are two types of macular degeneration called dry form and wet form.
Symptoms of macular degeneration include:
- Unclear vision (blurry).
- Dark spots, seen in the center of your vision.
- Abnormal color perception.
There are some risk factors of macular degeneration including smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, light-skinned, female, or light eye-color. Some modifiable risk factors can be avoided and help in reducing the chance of getting the condition.
Diagnosis
Whenever you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, next step should always be visiting a doctor. All these symptoms are serious, and shouldn’t be left untreated. If left untreated some of these conditions will lead to permanent vision loss, leaving no way of getting cured.
Once you see a doctor, you may have to undergo a few tests for a proper diagnosis. Some of these tests include ultrasound, CT or MRI, vision test, fluorescein angiography, fundus autofluorescence, ophthalmoscopy, or genetic tests. But all this starts with a thorough history from you.
Treatment
Diagnosis and treatment if done at earliest is the best way to prevent progression of this retinal damage to permanent vision loss.
It can never be said that there’s a 100% chance of you getting your vision back, but treatment might help you get better. Treatment plans include laser surgery, photocoagulation, cryopexy (for retinal tears), gas or air injection (for retinal detachment), medication injections, vitrectomy, retinal prothesis, treating underlying conditions, and some lifestyle changes (diet, hydration, reduced emotional stress).
Takeaway
All the symptoms mentioned in this article are very important, and should be taken seriously, particularly when seen together, or if you have a anyone in your family who has retinal disease.
You should always see a doctor whenever you see these symptoms without a delay. Neglecting any of the symptoms can be a warning or alarming sign. There is no need to panic on seeing any of the alarming and unusual symptoms but to visit a nearby health professional to get your condition checked and avoid any further damage that may lead to permanent eye damage and complete blindness.