The function of the retina and the macula can be impaired due to various diseases, which often occur with advancing age.
If these diseases are detected and treated in good time, the gradual loss of vision can be at least held back in most cases. Sometimes it is even possible to restore the patient’s vision back to their previous acuity again.
The retina is located inside the eye. It converts incident light (light hitting the eye) into nerve impulses and transmits this information to the brain. The macula – also known as the yellow spot – is the central area of the retina and is referred to as the site of the sharpest vision. Without the retina, we cannot see light/dark, colours or faces. Due to its high performance and stress, the middle of the retina is particularly sensitive, which is why it also becomes more susceptible to disease with advancing age.
As soon as light reaches our eyes, the retina converts it into electrical signals. For this purpose, the retina has two different types of light-sensitive cells – on the one hand, more than 110 to 125 million rods for twilight and night vision, and on the other hand, six to seven million cones in the middle of the retina, which are responsible for day vision, high-resolution vision and colour vision. In order to be able to see clearly, the light-sensitive cells need nutrients. The inner seven layers of the retina are supplied by the central artery, while the outer layers are mainly nourished by the choroid.
Diseases of the retina are summarised under the medical term retinopathy. Today, ophthalmologists are fortunately able to detect a retinal disease – even before the patient themselves notices it – and thus treat it in good time to avoid irreparable damage to the eye. The following signs and complaints indicate a retinal disease:
The functioning of the macula and retina can be damaged by numerous diseases. They can be classified as follows:
The most common causes include:
As many retinal diseases are usually present for a long time without any symptoms, possible diseases are often diagnosed and treated very late. For this reason, regular ophthalmological check-ups are recommended to rule out all eventualities, especially if there is a history of these kinds of problems in the patient’s family.
Depending on the type of retinal diseases, the disease sooner or later becomes noticeable in the form of visual impairment. In this case: The earlier a pathological change is detected in the eye, the greater the chance of successful treatment. Thanks to modern diagnostics, it is now possible to produce high-resolution images of underlying tissue. This means pathological changes in the retina and macula can be detected at an early stage. The following methods are used to diagnose a retinal disease:
In addition to surgical therapies, conventional laser therapies and photodynamic therapies are also carried out for retinal diseases.
Various lasers are used for this purpose. Medication is also administered or injected for treatment.
In the case of diseases of the retina and/or macula, it is advisable to have regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist. Especially after laser or injection therapy, the ophthalmologist should be consulted again to determine whether the drug therapy is actually working.
In the case of dry macular degeneration, the disease progresses over a longer period of time. Dry AMD can lead to wet macular degeneration. The wet form occurs in 15 to 20% of all patients and can lead to severe visual impairment within a few months. In wet age-related macular degeneration, pathological blood vessels grow into the sensitive zone of the macula, resulting in irreversible cell damage within this retina area.
If holes or tears appear in the retina, retinal detachment may occur. If left untreated, retinal detachment can lead to blindness within a few days. This is therefore an emergency.
Different health conditions may affect the health of the retina. As the retina has a particularly fine blood supply and is also made up of sensitive tissue, vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, metabolic disorders and diabetes can have a negative effect on the health of the retina. Furthermore, a disease of the retina can also be hereditary.
