Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Eye Diseases > Retinal Diseases Terms and Definitions

Retinal Diseases

Medical Definition:
Guide Notes:	inflamm dis = RETINITIS or CHORIORETINITIS; retinal dystrophy: index under RETINAL DEGENERATION or MACULAR DEGENERATION relying on text & refs
Previously Indexed:	Retina (1966-1971)

Retinal Diseases Categories.

	Angioid Streaks - Small breaks in the elastin-filled tissue of the retina.
	Diabetic Retinopathy - Retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus, which may be of the background type, progressively characterized by microaneurysms, interretinal punctuate macular edema, or of the proliferative type, characterized by neovascularization of the retina and optic disk, which may project into the vitreous, proliferation of fibrous tissue, vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment.
	Epiretinal Membrane - A membrane on the vitreal surface of the retina resulting from the proliferation of one or more of three retinal elements: (1) fibrous astrocytes; (2) fibrocytes; and (3) retinal pigment epithelial cells. Localized epiretinal membranes may occur at the posterior pole of the eye without clinical signs or may cause marked loss of vision as a result of covering, distorting, or detaching the fovea centralis. Epiretinal membranes may cause vascular leakage and secondary retinal edema. In younger individuals some membranes appear to be developmental in origin and occur in otherwise normal eyes. The majority occur in association with retinal holes, ocular concussions, retinal inflammation, or after ocular surgery. (Newell, Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts, 7th ed, p291)
	Retinal Artery Occlusion - Occlusion or closure of the central retinal artery causing sudden, usually nearly complete, loss of vision in one eye. Occlusion of the branch retinal artery causes sudden visual loss in only a portion of the visual field.
	Retinal Degeneration - A retrogressive pathological change in the retina, focal or generalized, caused by genetic defects, inflammation, trauma, vascular disease, or aging. Degeneration affecting predominantly the macula lutea of the retina is MACULAR DEGENERATION. (Newell, Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts, 7th ed, p304)
	Retinal Detachment - Separation of the inner layers of the retina (neural retina) from the pigment epithelium. Retinal detachment occurs more commonly in men than in women, in eyes with degenerative myopia, in aging and in aphakia. It may occur after an uncomplicated cataract extraction, but it is seen more often if vitreous humor has been lost during surgery. (Dorland, 27th ed; Newell, Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts, 7th ed, p310-12).
	Retinal Neovascularization - Formation of new blood vessels originating from the retinal veins and extending along the inner (vitreal) surface of the retina.
	Retinal Perforations - Perforations through the whole thickness of the retina including the macula as the result of inflammation, trauma, degeneration, etc. The concept includes retinal breaks, tears, dialyses, and holes.
	Retinal Vasculitis - Inflammation of the retinal vasculature with various causes including infectious disease, LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS; MUTIPLE SCLEROSIS; BEHCET SYNDROME; and CHORIORETINITIS.
	Retinal Vein Occlusion - Occlusion of the retinal vein. Those at high risk for this condition include patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases.
	Retinitis - Inflammation of the RETINA. It is rarely limited to the retina, but is commonly associated with diseases of the choroid (CHORIORETINITIS) and of the OPTIC DISK (neuroretinitis).
	Retinopathy of Prematurity - A bilateral retinopathy occurring in premature infants treated with excessively high concentrations of oxygen, characterized by vascular dilatation, proliferation, and tortuosity, edema, and retinal detachment, with ultimate conversion of the retina into a fibrous mass that can be seen as a dense retrolental membrane. Usually growth of the eye is arrested and may result in microophthalmia, and blindness may occur. (Dorland, 27th ed)
	Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative - Vitreoretinal membrane shrinkage or contraction secondary to the proliferation of primarily retinal pigment epithelial cells and glial cells, particularly fibrous astrocytes, followed by membrane formation. The formation of fibrillar collagen and cellular proliferation appear to be the basis for the contractile properties of the epiretinal and vitreous membranes.

Retinal Diseases Medical Definitions and Terms

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