Retinal damage can happen due to many reasons. Some of the common diseases of the Retina are diabetic retinopathy, retinal tear, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and retinal vein occlusion.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a condition in which high blood sugar in diabetes affects the blood vessels in the eye especially, retina, causing vision loss. Because of this, the blood vessels may start to leak blood and other fluids into the eye. Cholesterol can also settle down in the blood vessels of the retina causing swelling and eventually vision loss. There might be no symptoms initially, but early detection and early treatment can cure diabetic retinopathy and improve vision.

Retinal Tear is a tear or rip in the retina occurring due to too much tugging on the retina or when there is a common posterior vitreous detachment. A posterior vitreous detachment happens when the gel inside the eye shrinks and separates from the retina. At times it sticks onto the retina and separating can rip a hole causing a retinal tear. It can also cause the fluid to leak from behind the retina causing the retina to detach. If not detected early and treated, can lead to vision loss.

Retinal Detachment happens when the retina detaches itself from the tissues that nurture it. If in any case, the blood supply stops, the retina cannot function properly. Retinal detachment may occur due to different reasons.

Macular Degeneration happens with age, the central vision is lost over time but the peripheral vision is intact. While blindness does not occur, people over the age of 50 may experience severe vision loss. Macular degeneration can be dry and wet. In the dry form of macular degeneration, the macula slowly breaks down, while the cause is unclear the supporting membrane for the macula breaks down eventually. The wet macular degeneration leads to a more severe vision loss and happens when abnormal and leaky blood vessels start to appear underneath the retina. Fluid can then leak into the retina and damage it causing a loss of vision.

Retinal Vein Occlusion is when the blood flow to the retina gets blocked due to a clot and damages the retina. The Retina always needs an adequate supply of oxygen, and nutrients and any damage to it can cause a sudden loss of vision. If the vision loss is not in the centre of the retina, there is a tendency it may go overlooked or unnoticed. A blocked retinal vein, may not drain blood from the retina causing the blocked blood vessels to bleed and leak the fluid. Two types of retinal vein occlusion are:

• Central retinal vein occlusion is when the main retinal vein gets blocked
• Branch retinal vein occlusion is when a smaller vein in the branch becomes blocked

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a hereditary eye disease where retinal photoreceptors start to degenerate, causing a decline in vision.

Treatment

• Laser treatment to reduce the bleeding, and swelling and destroy the new weakened blood vessels.
• Intravitreal injection of anti-endothelial growth factor drugs.
• Scleral Buckle involves affixing a small, flexible band placed around the sclera helping the retina reattach permanently to the eye
• Pneumatic Retinopexy is where a surgeon injects small air bubbles into the eye pushing the retina back in place, after which a laser treatment helps seal tears or holes.
• Vitrectomy is a surgery similar to Pneumatic Retinopexy but more in-depth.