Out of all our vital organs, probably the most precious ones are our eyes. The retina, an integral part of our eye, is what helps us see the world. It acts as the bridge between the light that enters our eyes and the images we see.

Unfortunately, our retina is susceptible to various diseases which can stem from different kinds of root causes. And one such group of diseases are vitreoretinal diseases.

In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at all aspects of vitreoretinal disorders.

What are Vitreoretinal Diseases?

Our retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of our eye that focuses images and transmits information to the brain through the optic nerve. The clear gel that fills the retina and the space between the lens at the front of the eye is known as the vitreous. The term used for the retina and vitreous body is known as vitreoretinal.

Conditions that affect the vitreoretinal are known as vitreoretinal diseases.

What Causes Vitreoretinal Diseases?

The primary causes of vitreoretinal diseases are diabetes and ageing. It can also be caused due to trauma or light damage. Sometimes retinal disorders can also damage the vitreoretinal.

4 Common Vitreoretinal Diseases

Let’s take a look at the common vitreoretinal diseases suffered by people around the world:

1. Macular Degeneration

The macula is the part of the eye that provides us with clear central vision. Macular degeneration is a condition that affects the macula. As people grow older, the macula’s function gets compromised, thus leading to macular degeneration. This condition is also known as AMD. Macular degeneration is a common ailment after the age of sixty, however, it can also be caused due to accident or trauma. The two common types of AMD are:

• Wet macular degeneration: During wet AMD, new blood vessels grow under the retina leading to bleeding and fluid leakage. This kind of AMD grows fast and can damage the vision significantly.
• Dry macular degeneration: A more common kind, this AMD evolves slowly over the years. Symptoms of dry macular degeneration are spots accumulating in and around the macula

2. Macular Hole

When a traction hole appears in the macula, it is known as a macular hole. This can be caused when an opening forms in the macula due to stretching and pulling. The most common cause of macular holes is ageing. In many cases, people suffering from macular holes experience mild symptoms, which may not need treatment right away. However, if the hole gets bigger or worse, your eye surgeon may suggest surgery.

3. Retinal Detachment

This is an emergency where the retina at the back of the eye is pulled away from its natural position. Due to retinal detachment, the retinal cells separate from the blood vessels that provide nourishment and oxygen to the eye. If left untreated, retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss. The primary symptom of retinal detachment is the sudden appearance of floaters and flashes of light or reduced vision. If you face any of these symptoms, contact an ophthalmologist right away.

4. Diabetic Retinopathy

This is a common diabetes complication that affects the eyes. High glucose in the blood can damage the blood vessels of the retina, thus leading to diabetic retinopathy. At first, there may be very little or no symptoms. However, the symptoms can develop over time and can finally lead to blindness. People suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing this condition. The longer the diabetes is out of control, the higher the chances of developing this disease.

Treatment of Vitreoretinal Disorders

Different kinds of vitreoretinal diseases are treated differently. The most common types of treatment include:

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy

• Medicines are used in this treatment to treat wet macular retinopathy and other vascular problems. Anti-VEGF treatment reduces blood vessel growth and swelling in the macular area of the retina.

Laser therapy

• A non-invasive procedure, laser is used to treat the blood vessels of the eye through this procedure.

Cryotherapy

• This is a targeted cold therapy that freezes the cells intending to repair damaged areas.

Vitrectomy

• In this therapy, the vitreous of the eye is removed to get access to the areas of the eye for treatment and replacing the vitreous with an artificial substance.

Photodynamic therapy

• Laser is used in this therapy along with special light-sensitive medication to seal off the abnormal blood vessels of the retina.

Traditional surgery

• Last, but not the least, traditional surgery is often used to treat retinal detachment or retinal tears.

Almost all of these treatments are non-painful since they are performed under local anaesthesia. However, patients might feel mild pain after the surgery.

Sources:

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/retina-eye
• https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/vitreoretinal-diseases-and-surgery/
• https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/medical-dictionary/macular-degeneration-amd
• https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/macular-hole
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/retinal-detachment/symptoms-causes/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/symptoms-causes/