The most common symptoms of a damaged retina
The retina is responsible for sensing light and sending the images to your brain. The tissue layer is prone to retinal damage, one of the most common ailments of the eye. Factors such as old age, trauma, or light are some of the most common reasons related to retina damage
Retinal disorders can affect your vision, and may even cause blindness if the retina is seriously damaged.
Symptoms of a damaged retina
The retina may be damaged if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Blurring of vision
- Dim vision
- Shadowed vision
- Floaters appearing as lines, cobwebs, or specks in your vision.
- Black spots
- Flashes of light
- Distorted shapes
- Decrease or loss in peripheral vision
- Bind spots
- Sudden loss of vision
- Difficulty in performing tasks that need detailed vision such as painting, or embroidery.
Retina damage may not be noticeable in the early stages. However, one may notice a few visual effects such as distortion of images, poor vision, blurry spots in the central vision, or vision with appearing or disappearing images.
There are a few other causes of retinal damage other than the common reasons such as ageing, physical injury, and diseases. Some of the other causes include:
- Drug misuse
- Steroidal medication
- Chronic stress
- Heart disease
- Other types of circulatory issues
Damage to the retina is a serious issue and must be treated immediately. Proper treatment and care must be given on time, or else one may experience permanent vision loss.
Causes of retina damage
Retina damage is also known as Retinopathy. Several medical conditions affect the blood vessels in the retina. The common causes of retina damage are:
- Diabetes- The disease causes damage to the blood vessels in the eyes. Deteriorated blood vessels can get blocked or become deformed, and can cause fluid accumulation and swelling of the retina. It will inevitably lead to decreased vision. The blood vessels may also burst in extreme conditions of fluid accumulation. The bleeding can lead to irritation, scarring, and deteriorated vision. Such type of damage takes years to develop and is called diabetic retinopathy
- Hypertension- The retina can also get damaged due to hypertension. Such a condition is called hypertensive retinopathy. Hypertension causes bleeding in the blood vessels of the retina. However, one may not notice any signs of hypertensive retinopathy in the early stages. Hence, people with hypertension must go for a routine eye check up.
- Serous retinopathy- Such a condition is caused by a build-up of serous fluid in the retina. The condition leads to decreased vision and may be triggered by certain medications such as steroids.
Maintaining one’s overall health is crucial in maintaining the condition of one’s retina. Keep a regular check on blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and wear eye protection to avoid fatal eye injuries and protect eyes against harmful UV rays. So, be proactive with your eye health and visit a retina eye hospital immediately, if you notice any symptoms.
