Retinopathy

Retinopathy is a disease of the retina, which is the thin, light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It can occur as a result of various conditions, most commonly diabetes and high blood pressure. Retinopathy can lead to vision loss and is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults.

Types of Retinopathy

There are several types of retinopathy, including:

• Diabetic retinopathy: This is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina. It is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes and the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness among working-age adults.

• Hypertensive retinopathy: This is damage to the retina and its blood vessels due to high blood pressure. It can lead to bleeding in the eye, blurred vision and complete loss of vision.

• Retinopathy of prematurity: This is a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants weighing about 2¾ pounds (1250 grams) or less that are born before 31 weeks of gestation.

Symptoms

Symptoms of retinopathy can include:

• Blurred vision
• Floaters
• Vision loss
• Difficulty seeing at night

Diagnosis

Retinopathy can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. This can include:

• Visual acuity test: This uses an eye chart to measure how well a person sees at various distances.

• Dilated eye exam: Drops are placed in the eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. This allows the eye care professional to see more of the retina and look for signs of disease.

• Tonometry: This is a test that measures the pressure inside the eye.

Treatment

Treatment for retinopathy depends on the underlying cause. For example, good control of diabetes and high blood pressure can slow the progression of retinopathy. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery may be needed to seal leaking blood vessels or to remove blood from the eye.

See also

• Eye disease
• Vision loss
• Diabetes

Retinopathy Resources
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