The retina

The retina is a thin, transparent membrane that lines the eyeball. It consists of of layers of photoreceptor cells – cones and rods. The cones are responsible for processing colours and for visual acuity, whereas rods process black-and-white images. The rods enable us to see at dusk or in dim light. The central part of the retina is the macula.

Depending on a person's general health condition, their individual characteristics, and genetic predispositions, the retina may be affected by various types of degeneration and damage.

Most commonly diagnosed retinal degenerations

The most common cause of retinal diseases are degenerative processes resulting from chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes or arterial hypertension), age or vision defect. They include the following:

• Degenerative changes in the peripheral retina – these affect the peripheral part of the retina. They are early degenerative changes which can lead to more serious conditions. They usually do not cause any clear symptoms, such as impaired vision, so they may remain undiagnosed for a long time and develop unnoticed.
• Retinal detachment – a condition which occurs when the retina separates from the back of the eye. The retina no longer functions properly when it is detached, which results in blurry vision. Retinal detachment is a serious issue that should not be underestimated. The causes of retinal detachment include: degenerative changes in the peripheral retina, high myopia, chronic diseases and eye conditions, as well as eye injuries.
• Macular hole – a defect in the central part of the retina, which is called the macula. This occurs when the vitreous body adheres too strongly to the retina and manifests itself with the following symptoms: decreased visual acuity and distorted vision, a spot or gap in the visual field, changes in the saturation of colours seen, and changes in the size of objects. Importantly, the symptoms can have either a mild, gradual course or a sudden, abrupt onset. Risk factors for the formation of a macular hole include: vision defects, eye injury, retinal detachment, swelling of the central part of the retina, and vitreous body tension.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – characterized by the loss of central vision. It most commonly affects individuals over 50 years of age who lead an unhealthy lifestyle (e.g., consume too many saturated fats and/or smoke) and suffer from chronic diseases. AMD occurs in two forms:
  -dry (more common, milder): involves the death of pigment cells and photoreceptors in the retina,
  -wet (rarer and more severe): involves the formation of new, abnormal blood vessels that, when they rupture, can lead to bleeding and swelling.
• Retinopathy – a disease which leads to retinal damage.It may have a number of underlying causes, including: prematurity, advanced diabetes, hypertension, or genetic predispositions. The symptoms are mainly associated with changes in the blood vessels. Depending on the cause of retinopathy (https://www.artlife.com.pl/posts/retinopathy-and-laser-vision-correction-1405.php), its course can be mild (with few complications) or severe (with complications that can even lead to vision loss).

Diagnostics and treatment

Currently, there are many diagnostic methods that enable the early detection of any changes in the retina. These include, among others:
- OCT (optical coherence tomography),
- examination of the posterior segment of the eye,
- visual acuity and colour perception test,
- fluorescein angiography.

Retinal treatment involves both pharmacological therapy and surgical treatment or laser therapy. The choice of the most suitable method mainly depends on the type of degeneration, its cause, and the degree of advancement.

The retina and laser vision correction

Some retinal degenerations are contraindications to performing the laser vision correction surgery. Much depends on how extensive the changes in the retina are and how their progression unfolds. This will be assessed during the  preliminary examination qualifying for the laser vision correction procedure.

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