Select a letter from the alphabet below to find the Eye Disease or select "All" to view the entire list of diseases.

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R

Retinal Artery Occlusion

Description:A retinal artery occlusion occurs when the central retinal artery or one of the arteries that branch off of it becomes blocked.

Cause:This blockage is typically caused by a tiny embolus (clot) in the blood stream. The occlusion decreases the oxygen supply to the area of the retina nourished by the affected artery, causing permanent vision loss.

Treatment:Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can consistently restore vision lost from an artery occlusion. However, if it is caught within the first hour and treatment is initiated immediately, recovery is possible in rare cases.

Retinal Tear/Detachment

Description:Retinal tears commonly occur when there is traction on the retina by the vitreous gel inside the eye.

Cause:Retinal tears frequently lead to detachments as fluids seep underneath the retina, causing it to separate and detach. A retinal detachment occurs when the retina’s sensory and pigment layers separate. Because it can cause devastating damage to the vision if left untreated, retinal detachment is considered an ocular emergency that requires immediate medical attention and surgery. It is a problem that occurs most frequently in the middle-aged and elderly. There are three types of retinal detachments. The most common type occurs when there is a break in the sensory layer of the retina, and fluid seeps underneath, causing the layers of the retina to separate. Those who are very nearsighted, have undergone eye surgery, or have experienced a serious eye injury are at greater risk for this type of detachment. Nearsighted people are more susceptible because their eyes are longer than average from front to back, causing the retina to be thinner and more fragile. The second most common type occurs when strands of vitreous or scar tissue create traction on the retina, pulling it loose. Patients with diabetes are more likely to experience this type. The third type happens when fluid collects underneath the layers of the retina, causing it to separate from the back wall of the eye. This type usually occurs in conjunction with another disease affecting the eye that causes swelling or bleeding.

Treatment:There are a number of ways to treat retinal detachment. The appropriate treatment depends on the type, severity and location of the detachment.

Retinal Vein Occlusion

Description:A blockage of the blood supply to the retina, the light sensitive membrane in the back of the eye.

Cause:Retinal arteries and veins can become blocked by a blood clot, fat deposit, or a fragment of atherosclerotic plaque. This is usually caused by an underlying disorder such as glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes, coagulation disorders, atherosclerosis, or hyperlipidemia.

Treatment:The dilation of retinal vessels by inhalation of carbon dioxide/oxygen mixtures may be used to treat arterial blockages. This treatment may allow the clot to move further down the vessel, thereby reducing the area of the retina that is affected. Treatment for retinal vein occlusions can include aspirin and laser therapy. In patients under 40, blood work investigating a clotting problem should be considered.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Description:Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of diseases which tend to run in families and cause slow, but progressive loss of vision. The retina is the tissue which lines the inside of the eye and sends visual images to the brain. In RP, there is gradual destruction of some of the light sensing cells in the retina.

Cause:The cause of retinitis pigmentosa has not been clearly identified. About fifty percent of RP cases are sporadic with the remaining cases being hereditary. Learning more about the history of people with RP may help predict how the disease will progress for the affected person, although variations can exist even from person to person within a family. The first symptoms usually start during young adulthood, although it may be seen first at any age. The two most common symptoms are night blindness where adjusting to the dark happens very slowly and the loss of side vision. Loss of side or peripheral vision makes mobility very difficult. Once this occurs, a person is left with only central vision as if looking down a tunnel.

Treatment:While developments are on the horizon such as in the area of genetic research, there is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa. The retina is attached to the optic nerve and transplants are not yet an option. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to demonstrate benefits from any treatment methods, including vitamin supplements, currently available.

Retinoblastoma

Description:Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor on the retina, the light-sensing part of the eye, and is highly curable if treated early. This type of cancer can be present in one or both eyes.

Cause:Our eyes begin to develop very early in the womb. Rapidly growing cells in the eye, called retinoblasts, will eventually mature and form the retina, the light-sensing part of the eye that is located in the back of the eye. Sometimes, these specialized cells do not stop reproducing and form a tumor on the retina. These tumors may continue to grow, filling almost the entire vitreous humor (the jellylike substances the fills the eyeball). These tumors can also break off and spread to other parts of the eye, and eventually outside to lymph nodes and other organs.

Treatment:Because it is usually found before it spreads outside of the sclera (white of the eye), retinoblastoma is highly curable. There are also many types of treatment that can save sight in the eye affected by retinoblastoma. Treatments are selected based on the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis.

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Description:Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), also known as retrolental fibroplasia, is a potentially blinding condition affecting the retina of newborns.

Cause:In babies born prematurely, the growth and development of normal blood vessels in the retina is halted and abnormal vessels may begin to develop. The problem with abnormal vessel growth, known as neovascularization, is that it does not deliver adequate oxygen supply to the retina. The factors that put infants at greatest risk of developing ROP are low birth weight (less than 3.5 pounds) and premature delivery (26-28 weeks).

Treatment:Some children who develop only stage 1-2 of the disease improve with no treatment. In other cases, treatment is required if it reaches threshold. This is a term that indicates the presence of stage 3 changes. To prevent the proliferation of abnormal vascularization, areas of the retina may be frozen with a technique called cryotherapy. Alternatively, laser may be used for the same purpose. Both treatments leave permanent scars in the peripheral retina, but they are often successful in preserving central vision.

Rubeosis

Description:Rubeosis is a term that describes abnormal blood vessel growth on the iris and the structures in the front of the eye. Normally there are no visible blood vessels in these areas.

Cause:When the retina has been deprived of oxygen, or ischemic, as with diabetic retinopathy or vein occlusion, abnormal vessels form to supply oxygen to the eye. Unfortunately, the formation of these vessels obstructs the drainage of aqueous fluid from the front of the eye, causing the eye pressure to become elevated. This usually leads to neovascular glaucoma.

Treatment:The primary concern with rubeosis is the treatment of the secondary problem of glaucoma. It is often difficult however, to control the intraocular pressure with this type of glaucoma. Both medical and surgical treatment are often required.