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Retinal Disorders
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Eyes Vision

Retinal Disorders

Retinal disorders affect the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, potentially causing blurred vision, distortion, or permanent vision loss.

What are retinal disorders?

Retinal disorders are conditions that affect the retina, the thin light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The retina senses light and sends signals to your brain so you can see. These disorders can cause blurred or distorted vision, and some can lead to vision loss or blindness.

What causes retinal disorders?

The causes of retinal disorders vary. Aging is a common factor, but other risk factors include:

  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
  • Eye injury or trauma
  • Family history of retinal disorders

Common Retinal Disorders

  • Macular degeneration: Occurs when the macula (the center of the retina that helps you see fine details) breaks down. There are two types: wet and dry.
  • Diabetic retinopathy: Occurs when diabetes damages small blood vessels in the retina, causing them to swell or leak.
  • Retinal detachment: Occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye. This is a medical emergency.
  • Retinal tears: A hole or break in the retina caused when the gel-like substance inside your eye (the vitreous) pulls away.
  • Retinoblastoma: A rare cancer of the retina that most often affects young children.
  • Macular pucker: Scar tissue that forms on the macula and distorts vision.
  • Macular hole: A small opening in the macula, often related to aging or injury, which can blur or distort central vision.
  • Eye floaters: Small specks, cobwebs, or threads that drift across your vision; these are more common with aging.
  • Retina pigmentosa: A group of inherited disorders that slowly damage the retina and cause loss of night and side (peripheral) vision.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary, but most retinal disorders affect your vision. Common signs include:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Loss of central or side (peripheral) vision
  • Flashes of light
  • Seeing floating specks or cobwebs
  • Trouble seeing at night
  • Sudden vision loss (in severe cases)

Seek medical care right away if you notice flashes of light, sudden vision changes, or a sudden increase in eye floaters.

Diagnosis

Eye care providers check for retinal disorders with a dilated eye exam, using eye drops to widen your pupils. They may also perform:

  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT): To take detailed pictures of the inside of your eye.
  • Fluorescein angiography: To check the blood vessels in your retina.
  • Visual field tests: To measure your side (peripheral) vision.

Treatment & Management

Treatment depends on the cause and severity and may include:

  • Laser therapy
  • Medicine or eye injections
  • Surgery
  • Lifestyle management to control conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure

Prevention

While not all retinal disorders can be prevented, you can protect your eyes by:

  • Wearing safety goggles or sunglasses
  • Getting regular eye exams
  • Quitting smoking
  • Managing diabetes and blood pressure

Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetic retinopathy often presents with gradual blurring, floaters, or dark spots that may fluctuate, and is directly linked to blood sugar control, whereas age-related macular degeneration typically causes a gradual loss of central vision, making straight lines appear wavy or distorted. A key differentiator is that diabetic retinopathy can affect both central and peripheral vision due to widespread vessel damage, while macular degeneration primarily impacts the center of your vision. Only a comprehensive dilated eye exam with imaging can definitively distinguish between these conditions.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited disorders that currently have no cure, but management focuses on slowing progression and maximizing remaining vision. Emerging treatments, including gene therapy for specific genetic mutations (such as RPE65) and vitamin A palmitate supplementation, are being studied or used in limited cases. Patients should consult a retina specialist to determine if they qualify for clinical trials or specific nutritional interventions that may help preserve night vision and peripheral sight.
retinal tear is a break in the retinal tissue, often caused by the vitreous gel pulling away, while a retinal detachment occurs when fluid passes through that tear and lifts the retina off the back of the eye. A tear is a critical warning sign because it is the precursor to a full detachment; if treated promptly with laser or cryotherapy, the tear can be sealed to prevent fluid from entering and causing a detachment, which is a much more complex surgical emergency.
Smoking is one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for age-related macular degeneration, doubling or tripling the risk of developing the condition and accelerating its progression from the dry to the wet form. The toxins in cigarette smoke damage the blood vessels in the retina and increase oxidative stress, which harms the macula. Quitting smoking at any age can reduce the risk of vision loss and slow the progression of existing retinal damage.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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