Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiabetic RetinopathyRetinopathy of PrematurityHypertensive RetinopathyCentral Serous RetinopathyFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diabetic Retinopathy
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Hypertensive Retinopathy
Central Serous Retinopathy
Frequently Asked Questions
If the retina is not functioning as it should, you may be told that you haveretinopathy. This is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of conditions that may lead to retina-related vision loss.
The blood supply to the retina plays an important role. A normal healthy retina has blood vessels within it to bring needed oxygen and nutrients to function.
In retinopathy, the blood vessels may leak, overrun the retina, or grow right through it. The retina can begin to break down or may detach, causing vision loss and maybe even blindness in some cases.
This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatments for four major types of retinopathy, including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, hypertensive retinopathy, and central serous retinopathy.
The Anatomy of the Retina
Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, can be a sight-threatening disease. The high blood sugar that is the hallmark of diabetes can affect the eyes. It can eventually damage small blood vessels in the retina, which may leak fluid. Because of this, the retina may swell, causing vision to blur or become cloudy.
Also, when there is high blood sugar in the system for an extended period, the lens of the eye accumulates fluid, which changes the curvature. However, when the blood sugar drops, this can return to normal.
However, the same is not true for damage to the retina. New abnormal blood vessels may form on the retinal surface to try to improve blood circulation there. But since these are fragile, they leak blood, block vision, and ultimately damage the retina.
The growth of new blood vessels is calledneovascularization. Tests can be done to look for it.
Factors influencing the risk for developing diabetic retinopathy include:
Symptoms of the condition to be alert for include:
Diabetic retinopathy occurs in two stages, non-proliferative and proliferative.
Non-Proliferative Retinopathy
This is the early stage of the disease, the hallmark of which is leaking blood vessels. Early on, there may be retinal hemorrhages (bleeding) or leakage of fluid or lipid (fat). Over time, the blood vessels close, causing poor blood flow to the retina.
Proliferative Retinopathy
In response to the poor blood flow, abnormal new blood vessels begin to grow. These may begin to leak blood into the vitreous (the jelly-like substance that fills your eyes), clouding vision. This may cause scar tissue to form in the area and may eventually lead to aretinal detachmentwith severe vision loss.
Also, new blood vessels may grow into the area where fluid drains from the eye, blocking it. This causes a type of glaucoma, with increased eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve with permanent vision loss.
What Is Proliferative Sickle Cell Retinopathy?
Treatment
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy depends on the stage of the disease. Initially, your practitioner may want to watch it, especially if you have good vision. This may include regular eye exams every two to four months.
As the disease progresses, other options include injecting medications into the eye to help keep new blood vessels from forming.
If you are at a somewhat later stage, laser treatment may be tried to seal blood vessel leaks. Or, a pattern of scattered laser burns in parts of the retina with abnormal blood vessels may be used to shrink them. While this can cause some peripheral vision loss, it may also help preserve important central vision.
What to Know About Diabetic Retinopathy
This form of retinopathy usually affects premature infants, particularly those weighing 2 and 3/4 pounds or less. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) also tends to occur in babies born before 31 weeks of gestation. It tends to occur in both eyes and is a common cause of vision loss in children.
In ROP, an abundant number of abnormal blood vessels spread across the retina. These blood vessels tend to be fragile and leaky and cause scarring of the retina, as well as the potential for retinal detachment. It is the retinal detachment that is the main source of vision loss.
Determining if your child has this condition will likely require an retina specialist or retinologist to see what’s going on inside the eye. Still, there can be some signs in more severe cases. These include:
The need for treatment depends on the severity of the ROP. In mild cases, it is only necessary to closely watch the condition with frequent examinations. Remember that since the abnormal blood vessels can begin growing at any point, it’s important to follow through on this monitoring.
Treatments here may be as follows:
In addition to immediate issues, children with ROP are at greater risk later in life for nearsightedness,lazy eye,crossed eyes,glaucoma, and retinal detachment, some of which can be managed or treated.
While this can happen to anyone with high blood pressure, the risk is greatest for those who have had high blood pressure longer and have the most elevated pressure.
Often, there are no symptoms until damage has been done to the retina. Some indications that you may have this condition include:
If you have any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate attention.
To determine if you have this condition, your eye practitioner will check for signs of narrowing or leaking of your blood vessels, as well as the degree of damage.
At the mildest stage, the narrowing of your arteries may be barely detectable. However, in severe cases, this may involve swelling of the optic nerve and themacula(the oval area in the center of the retina responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision).
In addition to vision issues, those with the severe form of this condition tend to be at greater risk of stroke, as well as heart and kidney problems.
While not as much is known aboutcentral serous retinopathy, with this condition, there is a buildup of fluid under the retina. This occurs in a layer known as the retinal pigment epithelium. If fluid builds up here, it can cause visual distortion and even a detachment.
This condition tends to occur in men between the ages of 30 and 50 and seems to be stress-related. Additional factors that tend to lead to this condition include:
In most cases, treatment for this isn’t necessary, and people retain good vision, although perhaps not as good as before. Central serous retinopathy tends to clear up on its own.
However, if this doesn’t happen and fluid leakage persists, the doctor may prescribe oral medication.
Summary
Retinopathy is a general term for conditions affecting the retina. These often involve the tiny blood vessels supplying this light-sensitive area of the eye, leading to damage, leakage of fluid, or growth of new vessels that are fragile and can leak or bleed.
In diabetic retinopathy, high blood sugar leads to damage of the blood vessels. High blood pressure (also often seen in diabetes) may also cause this damage. Premature infants may have retinopathy of prematurity. Central serous retinopathy usually occurs in middle-aged adults due to fluid buildup under the retina.
A Word From Verywell
Having a regular comprehensive eye examination can catch early signs of eye conditions that can risk your sight. Additionally, many people do not realize they have diabetes or high blood pressure. A regular medical check-up can help you control these conditions so they do not raise your health risks from many serious conditions.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile this condition occurs in premature babies, there does appear to be a genetic component. Studies of twins show that from 70% to 80% of susceptibility is related to genetic rather than environmental factors.While the retina will recover if blood pressure is controlled, if the retinopathy is severe, the optic nerve or macula damage is likely to be permanent.While it is not a foregone conclusion, the fact is that almost all patients with type 1 diabetes develop the condition during the first 20 years with the disease, as do more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes. But controlling blood sugar levels and blood pressure can help delay progression.
While this condition occurs in premature babies, there does appear to be a genetic component. Studies of twins show that from 70% to 80% of susceptibility is related to genetic rather than environmental factors.
While the retina will recover if blood pressure is controlled, if the retinopathy is severe, the optic nerve or macula damage is likely to be permanent.
While it is not a foregone conclusion, the fact is that almost all patients with type 1 diabetes develop the condition during the first 20 years with the disease, as do more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes. But controlling blood sugar levels and blood pressure can help delay progression.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy data and statistics.American Optometric Association.Diabetic retinopathy.Boston Children’s Hospital.Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)/ symptoms causes.Cleveland Clinic.Retinopathy of prematurity.National Eye Institute.Retinopathy of prematurity.Bhargava M, Ikram MK, Wong TY.How does hypertension affect your eyes?J Hum Hypertens. 2012;26(2):71-83. doi:10.1038/jhh.2011.37MedlinePlus.High blood pressure and eye disease.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is central serous chorioretinopathy?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.Ortega-Molina JM, Anaya-Alaminos R, Uberos-Fernández J, et al.Genetic and environmental influences on retinopathy of prematurity.Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:1-7. doi:10.1155/2015/764159American Diabetes Association.Retinopathy in diabetes.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy data and statistics.American Optometric Association.Diabetic retinopathy.Boston Children’s Hospital.Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)/ symptoms causes.Cleveland Clinic.Retinopathy of prematurity.National Eye Institute.Retinopathy of prematurity.Bhargava M, Ikram MK, Wong TY.How does hypertension affect your eyes?J Hum Hypertens. 2012;26(2):71-83. doi:10.1038/jhh.2011.37MedlinePlus.High blood pressure and eye disease.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is central serous chorioretinopathy?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.Ortega-Molina JM, Anaya-Alaminos R, Uberos-Fernández J, et al.Genetic and environmental influences on retinopathy of prematurity.Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:1-7. doi:10.1155/2015/764159American Diabetes Association.Retinopathy in diabetes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy data and statistics.American Optometric Association.Diabetic retinopathy.Boston Children’s Hospital.Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)/ symptoms causes.Cleveland Clinic.Retinopathy of prematurity.National Eye Institute.Retinopathy of prematurity.Bhargava M, Ikram MK, Wong TY.How does hypertension affect your eyes?J Hum Hypertens. 2012;26(2):71-83. doi:10.1038/jhh.2011.37MedlinePlus.High blood pressure and eye disease.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is central serous chorioretinopathy?American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.Ortega-Molina JM, Anaya-Alaminos R, Uberos-Fernández J, et al.Genetic and environmental influences on retinopathy of prematurity.Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:1-7. doi:10.1155/2015/764159American Diabetes Association.Retinopathy in diabetes.
National Eye Institute.Diabetic retinopathy data and statistics.
American Optometric Association.Diabetic retinopathy.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)/ symptoms causes.
Cleveland Clinic.Retinopathy of prematurity.
National Eye Institute.Retinopathy of prematurity.
Bhargava M, Ikram MK, Wong TY.How does hypertension affect your eyes?J Hum Hypertens. 2012;26(2):71-83. doi:10.1038/jhh.2011.37
MedlinePlus.High blood pressure and eye disease.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is central serous chorioretinopathy?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.
Ortega-Molina JM, Anaya-Alaminos R, Uberos-Fernández J, et al.Genetic and environmental influences on retinopathy of prematurity.Mediators Inflamm. 2015;2015:1-7. doi:10.1155/2015/764159
American Diabetes Association.Retinopathy in diabetes.
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