The retina is the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. These pages explain the retinal conditions seen most often, which symptoms are urgent, and what treatment involves. Retinal surgery and injections are done by a retina specialist; your eye doctor will refer you when one is needed.
Conditions
Flashes and Floaters
Why floaters and flashes of light appear, what happens when the gel inside the eye pulls away from the retina, and the warning signs of a retinal tear that need a same-day exam. With an animation.
Retinal Tears and Detachment
How a retinal tear leads to a detachment, the warning signs, how a tear is sealed with laser, and how a detached retina is repaired. With an animation of both.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration: the dry and wet forms, what each does to vision, AREDS2 vitamins, checking with an Amsler grid at home, and treatment with injections. With an animation and a printable grid.
Diabetic Eye Disease
How diabetes damages the retina, why there are no early symptoms, how often to be examined, and how diabetic retinopathy and macular swelling are treated. With an animation of the stages.
Treatment
Injections into the Eye
What to expect from an intravitreal injection for wet macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema or a retinal vein blockage: why it is needed, the visit step by step, aftercare, risks and how often. With an animation.
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy (pars plana vitrectomy, PPV): surgery to remove the gel inside the eye to clear bleeding, repair a retinal detachment or macular hole, or remove scar tissue. What it involves, gas bubbles and positioning, and recovery. With an animation.
Laser for the Retina
Retinal laser treatment: scatter laser (panretinal photocoagulation, PRP) for new blood vessels in diabetic eye disease and vein blockages, and focal laser for leaks near the macula. What it does, the visit, side effects and how it compares with injections. With an animation.
Other topics
Glaucoma
What glaucoma is, how it is tested and followed, and what to expect from drops, laser and surgery.
Cataract
Cataract surgery from first visit to recovery, and the laser that clears a cloudy capsule afterward.
Dry Eye
Why eyes feel dry, gritty or watery, the eyelid problems behind most dry eye, and what helps, from lid care and artificial tears to prescription drops and plugs. Also watery eyes and eye allergy.
Cornea
The clear window at the front of the eye: scratches, pterygium, corneal swelling from Fuchs dystrophy, keratoconus, infections, and corneal transplants.
Vision Simulators
See what eye conditions do to everyday scenes, and what a glasses prescription means, on your own screen.