Condition library
Retina, vitreous and optic nerve conditions
Conditions affecting the light-sensing retina, vitreous gel and optic nerve at the back of the eye.
Medical reviewer Mr Mohamed Mohyudin, Consultant Ophthalmic SurgeonSite-wide clinical review
About this review
Mr Mohyudin completed a clinical review of the site’s medical content on the date shown. This page has been edited since then; a separate sign-off for this exact version has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim one.
Retina and optic nerve: compared at a glance
Summaries only — follow each link for symptoms, causes, treatment and when to get urgent help.
| Condition | Part of the eye | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Age-related macular degeneration | Macula | Damage to the central retina that blurs reading and faces; dry AMD is slower, wet AMD can drop vision quickly and needs urgent injections. |
| Diabetic retinopathy | Retinal blood vessels and retina | Diabetes damages retinal vessels, often before you notice; screening finds treatable change — sudden floaters or vision loss are emergencies. |
| Diabetic macular oedema | Macula and retinal blood vessels | Fluid swelling at the macula from diabetes; blurs central vision but is treatable when found early on screening. |
| Epiretinal membrane | Macula | A thin scar-like sheet on the macula that can warp central vision; many cases are mild and only some need surgery. |
| Retinal detachment | Retina | A medical emergency where the retina pulls away from the back of the eye; urgent treatment protects sight. |
| Retinal tear | Retina | A split in the retina that can lead to detachment; new flashes and floaters need same-day care. |
| Retinal vein occlusion | Retinal blood vessels | A blocked vein at the back of the eye causing sudden blurred vision; needs prompt eye assessment. |
| Retinal artery occlusion | Retinal blood vessels | Blocked retinal artery causing sudden painless vision loss; brief episodes (amaurosis fugax) are stroke warnings needing emergency assessment. |
| Floaters and flashes | Vitreous gel and retina | Drifting spots and brief light flashes are common with age; a sudden shower of floaters or a curtain of vision loss is an emergency. |
| Posterior vitreous detachment | Vitreous gel | A common, usually harmless age-related change causing floaters and flashes; needs checking to rule out a retinal tear. |
| Vitreous haemorrhage | Vitreous gel | Bleeding into the gel inside the eye causing sudden floaters or vision loss; needs urgent assessment. |
| Lattice degeneration | Retina | Thinning at the edge of the retina, common and usually harmless but linked to retinal tears in some people. |
| Central serous retinopathy | Macula | Fluid under the retina causing blurred or distorted central vision, often in stressed middle-aged men. |
| Macular hole | Macula | A small gap in the central retina causing distorted or missing central vision; often treated with surgery. |
| Retinitis pigmentosa | Retina | A group of inherited conditions that slowly break down the retina, often starting with night and side vision. |
| Optic neuritis | Optic nerve | Inflammation of the optic nerve causing sudden vision loss or pain on eye movement; needs urgent assessment. |
| Papilloedema | Optic nerve | Swelling of the optic nerve from raised pressure around the brain; causes headaches and vision changes. |
| Eye cancer (ocular melanoma) | Uvea (iris and choroid) | A rare cancer inside or on the eye; may have few early symptoms, so eye checks matter. |
| Endophthalmitis | Vitreous gel and front chamber | Severe infection inside the eye after surgery or injury; a sight-threatening emergency. |
| Uveitis | Uvea (iris and choroid) and iris | Inflammation inside the eye causing pain, redness and blurred vision; needs prompt specialist treatment. |
| Iritis | Iris | Inflammation at the front of the eye causing a painful, red, light-sensitive eye; needs prompt steroid treatment. |
| Scleritis | Sclera | Painful, deep inflammation of the white of the eye, often linked to autoimmune disease; needs prompt care. |
| Shingles in the eye | Eyelid and cornea | Shingles affecting the eye area can threaten sight; the rash and eye pain need urgent specialist care. |
| Nystagmus | Eye muscles and visual pathway to the brain | Involuntary, repetitive eye movements that can affect vision; managed with support and treating any cause. |
| Ocular migraine (visual aura) | Visual pathway to the brain | Temporary visual disturbances like zigzags or shimmering from migraine; usually harmless and short-lived. |
| Retinopathy of prematurity | Retinal blood vessels and retina | Abnormal blood vessel growth in premature babies' retinas; screened and treated to prevent vision loss. |
| Onchocerciasis (river blindness) | Cornea, retina and optic nerve | A parasitic eye disease spread by black flies; a WHO-targeted cause of preventable blindness in affected regions. |
| Colour blindness | Retina and macula | Usually inherited difficulty telling certain colours apart, most often red and green; not usually serious. |
| Leprosy and the eyes | Eyelid, cornea and iris | Leprosy can damage nerves that protect the eye surface, causing dryness, lagophthalmos and preventable corneal blindness. |
| Lymphatic filariasis | Eyelid and eye socket (orbit) | A mosquito-spread parasitic disease targeted by WHO; endemic in parts of Indonesia and tropical regions, with rare eye complications. |
| Cysticercosis and the eye | Vitreous gel and retina | Tapeworm larvae can lodge in the eye in endemic areas; causes vision loss if untreated — a WHO neglected tropical disease. |
| Giant cell arteritis | Optic nerve | Inflammation of scalp arteries in older adults; headache, jaw pain and sudden vision loss are emergencies. |
| Charles Bonnet syndrome | Visual pathway to the brain | Visual hallucinations in people with significant sight loss; distressing but not a mental illness — needs understanding and support. |
Frequently asked questions
Which retina symptoms are emergencies?
A sudden shower of floaters, flashing lights, a curtain over vision, or sudden painless vision loss need same-day assessment to rule out retinal detachment or artery blockage.
How often should people with diabetes have retina checks?
Most people with diabetes need periodic retinal screening even when vision feels normal, because diabetic retinopathy can progress silently until it threatens sight.
What is the difference between dry and wet macular degeneration?
Dry AMD is more common and progresses slowly. Wet AMD can cause sudden central distortion or loss and often needs urgent treatment with injections or other specialist care.