Your eyes are one of your most important assets. They make navigating through life much easier, not to mention they allow you to see some pretty amazing sights. With that in mind, you want to make sure your eyes are in their best possible shape at all times.
Knowing what to look out for when it comes to common eye conditions can be the difference between clear sight and vision loss. The retina is especially important when it comes to the health of your eyes, so having an understanding of common retinal diseases can come in handy.
Here are 4 retinal diseases you should know about!
Retinal Detachment
Your retina processes light to send to the brain, so it is important that it stays put so it can get the job done. A retinal detachment occurs when the retina pulls away from the tissue that holds it in place. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss, so you need to take this condition seriously.
You are more likely to experience a detached retina if you are severely nearsighted, have had cataract surgery, or have experienced an eye injury. Your family history also plays a role in this issue.
Symptoms include flashes of “light”, a sudden increase in floaters, and the darkening of your peripheral vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to contact an ophthalmologist immediately.
Retinal Tear
A retinal tear is often a precursor to a retinal detachment. It has many of the same symptoms, but there is an easy fix for it. Your eye doctor can use a laser to repair the tear and prevent the retina from detaching. Monitor your eyes, and if you notice any symptoms, get to the eye doctor immediately.
Microvascular Abnormalities
If you have diabetes, you could end up with microvascular abnormalities. This occurs when the small blood vessels in your retinas develop microaneurysms. That causes the blood vessels to leak blood. Then, the retinas grow new blood vessels, but they are weak, which means they also leak blood. These leaks can cause you to lose your vision. If you have diabetes, it is important that you control it to prevent this issue from occurring. Also, let your eye doctor know about your condition so he or she can monitor your retinas.
Nevus
You can also end up with a nevus on your retina. A nevus is just a fancy term for a pigmented freckle that forms on the retina. A nevus typically doesn’t affect the vision, but your eye doctor will need to monitor it to make sure that it doesn’t change in any way. If it gets bigger or the shape or elevation changes, the doctor will have to run further tests.
These are just some of the issues you can have with your retina. Since the retina plays such an important role in your vision, it is essential that you keep it healthy. Keep your regularly scheduled eye appointments so your eye doctor can check for issues and address them before they become serious. To schedule an appointment with Riverside Eye Center in Auburn, Maine, be sure to give us a call!