Retinal diseases

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, an ophthalmologist performs a thorough eye exam and looks for irregularities anywhere in the eye.

The following tests may be done to find the location and extent of the disease:

• Amsler grid test. An eye professional may use an Amsler grid to test the clarity of your central vision. You'll be asked if the lines of the grid seem faded, broken or distorted. Noting where the distortion is on the grid can help to understand the extent of retinal damage. If you have macular degeneration, you may be asked to use this test to self-monitor your condition at home.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT). This test is an excellent technique for capturing precise images of the retina. This can help diagnose epiretinal membranes, macular holes and macular swelling, called edema. It also can monitor the extent of age-related wet macular degeneration and how it's responding to treatment.
• Fundus autofluorescence (FAF). FAF may be used to determine the stage of retinal diseases, including macular degeneration. FAF highlights a retinal pigment, called lipofuscin, that increases with retinal damage or dysfunction.
• Fluorescein angiography. This test uses a dye that causes blood vessels in the retina to stand out under a special light. This helps to exactly identify closed blood vessels, leaking blood vessels, new irregular blood vessels and subtle changes in the back of the eye.
• Indocyanine green angiography. This test uses a dye that lights up when exposed to infrared light. The resulting images show retinal blood vessels and the deeper, harder-to-see blood vessels behind the retina in a tissue called the choroid.
• Ultrasound. This test uses high-frequency sound waves, called ultrasonography, to help view the retina and other structures in the eye. It also can identify certain tissue characteristics that can help in the diagnosis and treatment of eye tumors.
• CT and MRI. In rare instances, these imaging methods can be used to help evaluate eye injuries or tumors.

Treatment

The main goals of treatment are to stop or slow disease progression and preserve, improve or restore your vision. In many cases, damage that has already happened can't be reversed, making early detection important. Your eye doctor will work with you to decide on the best treatment.

Treatment of retinal disease may be complex and sometimes urgent. Options include:

• Using a laser. Laser surgery can repair a retinal tear or hole. Your surgeon uses a laser to heat small pinpoints on the retina. This creates scarring that usually binds the retina to the underlying tissue. Immediate laser treatment of a new retinal tear can decrease the chance of it causing a retinal detachment.
• Shrinking irregular blood vessels. Your eye doctor may use a technique called scatter laser photocoagulation to shrink irregular new blood vessels that are bleeding or threatening to bleed into the eye. This treatment may help people with diabetic retinopathy. Extensive use of this treatment may cause the loss of some side (peripheral) or night vision.
• Freezing. In this process, called cryopexy (KRY-o-pek-see), your surgeon applies a freezing probe to the outside wall of the eye to treat a retinal tear. Intense cold reaches the inside of the eye and freezes the retina. The treated area will later scar and secure the retina to the eye wall.
• Injecting air or gas into your eye. This technique, called pneumatic retinopexy (RET-ih-no-pek-see), is used to help repair certain types of retinal detachment. It can be used in combination with cryopexy or laser photocoagulation.
• Indenting the surface of your eye. This surgery, called scleral (SKLAIR-ul) buckling, is used to repair a retinal detachment. Your surgeon sews a small piece of silicone material to the outside eye surface, called the sclera. This indents the sclera and relieves some of the force caused by the vitreous tugging on the retina and reattaches the retina. This technique may be used with other treatments.

• Evacuating and replacing the fluid in the eye. In this procedure, called vitrectomy (vih-TREK-tuh-me), your surgeon removes the gel-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye, called the vitreous. Air, gas or liquid is then injected into the space.

  Vitrectomy may be used if bleeding or inflammation clouds the vitreous and blocks the surgeon's view of the retina. This technique may be part of the treatment for people with a retinal tear, diabetic retinopathy, a macular hole, epiretinal membrane, an infection, eye trauma or a retinal detachment.

• Injecting medicine into the eye. Your eye doctor may suggest injecting medicine into the vitreous in the eye. This technique may be effective in treating people with wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or broken blood vessels within the eye.
• Implanting a retinal prosthesis. People who have severe vision loss or blindness owing to certain inherited retinal disease may need surgery. A tiny electrode chip is implanted in the retina that receives input from a video camera on a pair of eyeglasses. The electrode picks up and relays visual information that the damaged retina can no longer process.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Coping and support

Vision loss from retinal disease can affect your ability to do things such as read, recognize faces and drive. These tips may help you cope with your changing vision:

• Ask your eye doctor to check your eyeglasses. If you wear contacts or glasses, be sure your prescription is up to date and at maximum strength. If a stronger pair of glasses doesn't help, ask for a referral to a low-vision specialist.
• Use prescribed magnifiers. A variety of magnifying devices prescribed by a low-vision specialist can help you with reading and close-up work, such as sewing. Such devices include hand-held lenses or magnifying lenses you wear like glasses. You also may use a closed-circuit television system that uses a video camera to magnify reading material and project it on a video screen. Over-the-counter magnifiers may not work as well.
• Change your computer display and add audio systems. Adjust the font size and monitor contrast in your computer's settings. Consider adding speech-output systems or other technologies to your computer.
• Use electronic reading aids and voice interface. Try talking watches, clocks and calculators; large-print books; tablet computers; and audio books. Some tablet and smartphone apps are designed to help people with low vision. And many of these devices now come with a voice recognition feature.
• Select special appliances made for low vision. Some clocks, radios, telephones and other appliances have extra-large numbers. You may find it easier to watch a television with a larger high-definition screen, or you may want to sit closer to the screen.
• Use brighter lights in your home. Better lighting helps with reading and other daily activities, and it also may reduce the risk of falling.
• Consider your transportation options. If you drive, check with your doctor to see if it's safe to continue doing so. Be extra cautious in certain situations, such as driving at night, in heavy traffic or in bad weather. Use public transportation or ask a friend or family member to help. Make arrangements to use local van or shuttle services, volunteer driving networks, or ride-shares.
• Get support. Having a retinal condition can be difficult, and you may need to make changes in your life. You may go through many emotions as you adjust. Consider talking to a counselor or joining a support group. Spend time with supportive family members and friends.

Preparing for your appointment

To check for retinal disease, a dilated eye exam is usually necessary. Make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in eye care — an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. He or she can perform a complete eye exam.

What you can do

Before your appointment:

• When you make the appointment, ask if you need to do anything to prepare.
• List any symptoms you're experiencing, including those that seem unrelated to your vision problem.
• List all medications, vitamins and supplements you take, including doses.
• Ask a family member or friend to accompany you. Having your pupils dilated for the eye exam will affect your vision for a time afterward, so you may need someone to drive or accompany you after your appointment.
• List questions to ask your doctor.

For retinal disease, questions to ask your doctor include:

• How advanced is my condition?
• Is it safe for me to drive?
• Will I experience further vision loss?
• Can my condition be treated?
• Will taking a vitamin or mineral supplement help prevent further vision loss?
• What's the best way to monitor my vision for any changes?
• What changes in my symptoms warrant calling you?
• What low-vision aids might be helpful to me?
• What lifestyle changes can I make to protect my vision?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• When did you first notice your vision problem?
• Does the condition affect one or both eyes?
• Do you have trouble seeing things near you, at a distance or both?
• Do you smoke or did you ever smoke? If so, how much?
• Do you have other medical problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes?
• Do you have a family history of retinal disease?
• Have you experienced an injury to your eye?