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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.
IDO Laser
Cerclage(LC) 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.
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.
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.
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E-mail Margaret Harrill - Web Master -
January
2005
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