The hole may develop from abnormal traction between the retina and the vitreous, or it may follow an injury to the eye. A macular hole is a small defect in the center of the retina at the back of your eye (macula). This membrane pulls up on the retina, which distorts your vision. Epiretinal membrane is a delicate tissue-like scar or membrane that looks like crinkled cellophane lying on top of the retina. Or you may develop new, abnormal capillaries that break and bleed. This causes the retina to swell, which may blur or distort your vision. If you have diabetes, the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in the back of your eye can deteriorate and leak fluid into and under the retina. This usually occurs when fluid passes through a retinal tear, causing the retina to lift away from the underlying tissue layers. A retinal detachment is defined by the presence of fluid under the retina. It's often accompanied by the sudden onset of symptoms such as floaters and flashing lights.

A retinal tear occurs when the clear, gel-like substance in the center of your eye (vitreous) shrinks and tugs on the thin layer of tissue lining the back of your eye (retina) with enough traction to cause a break in the tissue. TypesĬommon retinal diseases and conditions include: Untreated, some retinal diseases can cause severe vision loss or blindness. Depending on your condition, treatment goals may be to stop or slow the disease and preserve, improve or restore your vision. Treatment is available for some retinal diseases.

Retina specialists