Retina Glossary of Terms
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Common Retinal Symptoms and Warning Signs
Recognizing these symptoms early and contacting our office promptly can help protect your vision and prevent serious complications.
Small, dark shapes that appear to drift through your field of vision, such as spots, threads, squiggly lines, or cobwebs. Floaters are usually caused by tiny clumps in the vitreous gel casting shadows on your retina. While most floaters are harmless, a sudden increase in floaters, especially with flashes, needs immediate evaluation.
Brief bursts or streaks of light that appear in your side vision, often described as lightning bolts or camera flashes. Flashes occur when something stimulates your retina, such as the vitreous tugging on it. While occasional flashes are common with aging, frequent or new flashes require prompt examination.
Visual distortion where straight lines appear wavy, bent, or irregular. This symptom often indicates problems with the macula, such as swelling, scarring, or structural changes. Many patients first notice metamorphopsia when looking at doorframes, telephone poles, or text on a page.
Blurriness, darkness, or blank spots in the center of your vision while side vision remains clear. Central vision loss affects activities requiring fine detail like reading, writing, recognizing faces, or threading a needle. This symptom often relates to macular conditions and requires evaluation.
Loss of side vision, often described as a curtain or shadow moving across your visual field. Peripheral vision loss can indicate retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency. If you notice a curtain effect in your vision, contact our office immediately.
Difficulty seeing in dim light or taking longer to adjust when moving from bright to dark environments. Poor night vision can be an early sign of retinal diseases, particularly those affecting the rod cells responsible for low-light vision.
Small, yellowish deposits that accumulate beneath the retina as waste products build up over time. Drusen are commonly found in age-related macular degeneration and appear as tiny spots during eye exams. While small drusen may not affect vision, larger or more numerous drusen can increase the risk of vision changes.
Tiny balloon-like bulges in the walls of retinal blood vessels that may leak fluid or blood. Microaneurysms are often the first visible sign of diabetic retinopathy and appear as small red dots during dilated eye exams.
Retinal Diseases and Conditions We Treat
Our experienced team diagnoses and treats a wide range of retinal conditions using state-of-the-art technology and proven treatment approaches.
The leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, AMD affects the macula and comes in two forms. Dry AMD involves gradual thinning of macular tissues and drusen formation, progressing slowly over years. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina, leaking fluid or blood and potentially causing rapid vision loss.
A diabetes complication where high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in your retina. Early diabetic retinopathy may show small vessel changes with minimal symptoms. Advanced stages can develop abnormal new blood vessels that bleed into the eye or cause scar tissue formation, leading to serious vision loss.
Swelling in the macula caused by fluid leaking from damaged blood vessels in people with diabetes. DME can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy and is a leading cause of vision loss in diabetic patients. Early treatment often prevents significant vision loss and may improve vision.
A break or rip in the retina, often occurring when the vitreous pulls away from the retinal surface. Retinal tears can happen suddenly and may cause flashes and new floaters. Without prompt treatment, tears can progress to retinal detachment, so immediate evaluation is crucial.
A serious condition where the retina separates from the underlying tissue, cutting off its blood supply and nourishment. Symptoms include a curtain or shadow in your vision, sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or vision loss. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
A blockage in one of the veins that carries blood away from the retina, similar to a stroke in the eye. This blockage can cause bleeding, swelling, and vision loss. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, and blood clotting disorders.
A small break in the center of the macula that typically develops in people over 60. Macular holes cause central vision blur, distortion, and difficulty with detailed tasks. Most macular holes can be successfully repaired with microsurgery, often restoring significant vision improvement.
Also called epiretinal membrane, this condition occurs when scar-like tissue forms on the macula's surface, causing it to wrinkle. Symptoms include blurred or distorted central vision and difficulty reading. Mild cases may only need monitoring, while more severe cases may benefit from surgical removal.
A condition where fluid accumulates under the macula, creating a small detachment that causes blurred or distorted central vision. This condition often affects middle-aged adults and may be related to stress or steroid use. Many cases resolve on their own, but some require treatment.
Retina Treatments and Procedures
Our vitreoretinal surgeons and medical retina specialists offer the most advanced treatments available, personalized to your specific condition and needs.
Medications injected directly into the eye to block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that promotes the growth of abnormal blood vessels and increases vessel leakage. These injections are highly effective for treating wet AMD, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusions, often stabilizing or improving vision.
Precisely focused laser light used to seal leaking blood vessels, destroy abnormal tissue, or create protective scars around retinal tears. This outpatient treatment is performed in our office and helps prevent vision loss in various retinal conditions.
A freezing treatment applied to the outside of the eye to create a strong scar around retinal tears, preventing them from progressing to detachment. The treatment creates controlled inflammation that helps seal the tear as it heals.
An in-office procedure for certain types of retinal detachment where we inject a gas bubble into the eye to push the detached retina back into place. The bubble is combined with laser or freezing treatment to permanently seal the tear. Patients must maintain specific head positioning for several days to keep the bubble in the correct position.
A surgical procedure where we place a silicone band around the outside of the eye to provide support and help close retinal breaks. The buckle remains permanently in place and is not visible after surgery. This treatment is often used for retinal detachments and may be combined with other procedures.
Microsurgery performed in an operating room where we remove the vitreous gel and replace it with a clear solution. Vitrectomy allows us to access the retina directly to repair detachments, remove scar tissue, close macular holes, or clear blood from the eye. Recovery varies depending on the specific procedure performed.
Laser treatment applied inside the eye during vitrectomy surgery to seal retinal tears, treat areas of poor circulation, or stop bleeding from abnormal blood vessels. This internal laser approach allows for precise treatment of areas that cannot be reached with external laser.
Anti-inflammatory medications injected into the eye to reduce swelling and inflammation in certain retinal conditions. These treatments can be particularly effective for some types of macular edema but require careful monitoring for potential side effects like increased eye pressure or cataract formation.
Important Medical Terms
These terms frequently appear in your test results and treatment discussions, helping you better understand your care plan.
Reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to retinal tissue, often causing the affected area to function poorly. Ischemia can trigger the growth of abnormal new blood vessels as the eye attempts to restore adequate oxygen levels to the affected area.
The abnormal growth of new blood vessels in response to poor circulation or inflammation. These new vessels are typically fragile and prone to leaking or bleeding, potentially causing vision problems if left untreated.
New blood vessels that grow from the choroid through breaks in the RPE and beneath or into the retina. This process is characteristic of wet age-related macular degeneration and can cause rapid central vision loss without prompt treatment.
Swelling in the macula caused by fluid accumulation from leaking blood vessels or inflammation. This swelling distorts the macula's normal architecture and can significantly blur central vision. Various conditions including diabetes and vein occlusions can cause macular edema.
Bleeding into the vitreous cavity that can cause sudden vision loss, appearing as floaters, haze, or complete vision obstruction. Vitreous hemorrhage can result from diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, or trauma.
The formation of scar tissue on the retina's surface that can contract and cause the retina to wrinkle, fold, or re-detach. This complication can occur after retinal detachment surgery and may require additional treatment.
The small central area of the macula that normally contains no blood vessels, allowing for optimal light transmission and sharp vision. Changes in this area's size or shape can indicate disease progression and affect visual acuity.
Fluffy, white areas on the retina that represent areas of reduced blood flow and tissue damage. These spots are commonly seen in diabetic retinopathy, high blood pressure, and other vascular conditions affecting the retina.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions our patients commonly ask about retinal conditions and treatments.
Most patients experience only minimal discomfort during eye injections. We use numbing drops and antiseptic preparation to ensure your comfort and safety. Many patients describe the sensation as brief pressure rather than pain, and the actual injection takes only seconds to complete.
Treatment frequency varies based on your specific condition and response to therapy. Many patients begin with monthly injections, then transition to longer intervals as their condition stabilizes. Our doctors personalize your treatment schedule based on your eye's response and may extend time between treatments as appropriate.
Contact our office immediately, preferably the same day you notice these symptoms. New flashes and a sudden increase in floaters can indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which requires urgent evaluation and treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
Currently, there is no cure for AMD, but we have effective treatments that can slow progression and often improve vision. Wet AMD frequently responds well to anti-VEGF therapy, while dry AMD may benefit from nutritional supplements and lifestyle modifications. Regular monitoring helps us detect changes early and adjust treatment as needed.
Most medical insurance plans cover medically necessary diagnostic tests and treatments for retinal conditions. Our knowledgeable staff works with you to understand your coverage and benefits before scheduling tests or procedures, helping you make informed decisions about your care.
Recovery time depends on the reason for surgery and whether a gas bubble is used. Some patients notice improvement within days, while others may take weeks to months for full healing. We provide detailed post-operative instructions and closely monitor your progress to ensure optimal healing.
Yes, children can develop various retinal conditions including retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants, inherited retinal diseases, and trauma-related problems. Our specialists work closely with pediatric ophthalmologists to provide comprehensive care for young patients.
Maintain good control of diabetes and blood pressure, eat a diet rich in leafy greens and omega-3 fatty acids, wear UV-protective sunglasses, avoid smoking, and have regular comprehensive eye exams. Early detection and treatment of retinal problems provide the best outcomes for preserving vision.
Your Care Team at Retina Consultants
Our board-certified, fellowship-trained team including Dr. Larisa Kayserman, Dr. Robert V. Vallar, Dr. SongEun Lee, Dr. Rony Gelman, Dr. Bradford Liva, and Dr. Justin Arnett combines advanced expertise with compassionate care to provide the highest quality retinal services to patients throughout the NY Tri-State Area.