Retinal Detachment MD:Retina Specialists of Alabama Glossary of Retinal Anatomy & Treatment Terms

Eye globe left to right cornea & sclera, anterior chamber, iris & pupil, lens, posterior chamber & vitreous, retina with macula (center of vision) indicated by yellow arrow, optic nerve represented by lighter oval shape in retina, then sclera the far right light colored circumference of drawing

Normal eye illustrating light rays passing through cornea,anterior chamber, pupil, lens, vitreous cavity and focusing on the retina.

Retina Specialists of Alabama
Glossary Of Retinal Pathology and Treatment Terms

Cellophane maculopathy An abnormal wrinkled appearance of the macular surface, similar to crushed cellophane wrap, distinct from macular pucker which is more substantial.

Choroid The vascular system beneath the retina layer that supplies nourishment to the outer retinal layers.

Epimacular Proliferation (EMP) Cells and collagen fibers that accumulate on the surface of the macula and can contract, resulting in distorted vision.

Flashes (Photopsia) Traction on the retina experienced visually as brief flashes of light--lightening streaks. Sometimes more noticeable with head movements. Sometimes a warning symptom of impending retinal tear or detachment.

Floaters Cellular condensations or debris in the vitreous cavity experienced visually as either translucent string-like images or dark specks, like a swarm of gnats. A sudden appearance of new floaters may be a symptom of impending retinal tear or retinal detachment.

Fovea The center of the macula. The point of best visual acuity.

Giant retinal tear A large retinal break involving at least a fourth of the retinal circumference.

Horseshoe retinal tear (HSRT) A tear in the retina caused by vitreous traction which results in a break with a flap in the shape of a horseshoe.

Lattice Retinal Degeneration Thinning of the retina with the appearance of lattice work. This retinal degenerative condition is a risk factor for retinal detachment.

Laser An intense, highly focused, microscopic light beam used in retinal surgery for the purpose of sealing retinal defects or bonding the retina to the choroid to repair or prevent retinal detachment. (Sometimes described as Laser PC, or laser photocoagulation.) The acronym LASER stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

Macula The area of the retina responsible for detail vision, like reading and recognizing faces, and color vision.

Macular Hole A full thickness defect of the neurosensory retina at the fovea. Untreated may lead to legal blindness.

Macular Pucker Wrinkling of the internal limiting membrane and the neural retina layer caused by EMP resulting in distorted vision.

Marfan's Syndrome Connective tissue disorder with a strong hereditary basis with characteristic skeletal, cardiovascular and ocular disorders. Caused by a mutation onchromosome 15 in gene encoding for fibrillin, an elastin-matrix protein.

Myopia A common condition also known as nearsightedness. The diameter of the eye is usually elongated from front to back. Distant light entering the elongated eye, unless corrected optically by glasses, contact lenses or surgery does not focus on the retina.

Neurosensory (neural) retina That portion of the retinal tissue that is directly responsible for creating impulses interpreted by the brain as vision.

Ora Secunda Cerclage, OSC Encircling peripheral laser treatment applied with the indirect ophthalmoscope (IDO) to prevent retinal detachment. The encircling laser treatment securely bonds the retina to the choroid to resist traction from the vitreous.

Photocoagulation The process that occurs in tissue as a result of a laser operation.

Photopsia The appearance of bright streaks of light or lightening like flashes often caused by the mechanical action of vitreous traction on the retina. May be more noticeable with rapid or violent head movement. An new or sudden increase in light flashes may be a precursor to retinal tears.

Pneumatic retinopexy A two step surgical procedure to repair a retinal detachment with cryopexy and the injection of air or long-acting gas into the vitreous cavity.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) A normal process of the maturing eye in which vitreous gel liquefies and separates from the retina. PVD may cause symptoms of floaters and photopsia and occasionally may cause a tear(s) in the retina.

Prophylaxis Any measure intended to preserve health or prevent disease.

Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR) Vitreal and preretinal fibrotic membranes that occur following retinal injury or detachement. These abnormal tissues may be referred to as scar tissue and can cause folds in the retina, traction retinal detachment and recurrent retinal detachment. A serious complication to the retina.

Retina Layered, light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the interior of the eye, allowing the transmission of electrical impulses to the brain interpreted as vision.

Retinal detachment (RD) Separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. Subjectively experienced as a dark curtain across the field of vision.

Retinal break A hole or a tear through the full thickness of the retina.

Retinal hole Holes, unlike tears, are caused from atrophic conditions rather than traction. Holes are usually round and may not be symptomatic and usually do not cause detachment.

Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Pigmented cell layer that lies between the retinal visual cells and the choroid which is the eye's major vascular system.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) The most common form of retinal detachment in which a tear or hole in the retina allows fluid from the vitreous cavity to seep beneath the retina causing detachment.

Sclera The strong white outer layer of the eye contiguous with the clear cornea anteriorly (the front part of the eye which can be seen) and the optic nerve posteriorly (the very back of the eye) forming the globe of the eye.

Scleral buckle (SB) A surgical implant device used to indent the exterior globe of the eye in order to close retinal tears.

Silicone Oil A sterile, clear, colorless liquid approved by the FDA as a surgical device for (temporary) placement in the eye to repair complicated retinal detachments.

Traction Pulling force on the retina exerted by the vitreous or pathologic surface membranes(PVR).

Vitreous Transparent, inert, jelly-like substance that fills the interior of the eye.

Vitreous Detachment - see posterior vitreous detachment

Vitrectomy Microsurgical technique for removing the vitreous from the eye, done alone for some vitreal disorders and in combination with other procedures for some retinal conditions.