Get Everything Know About Retina and Its Health


In the human body, the eyeball is the most important organ made up of many delicate and powerful parts that helps us to see things. The retina is one of the most essential parts of the eyeball. The retina is made up of a thin layer of tissues that line the back surface of the eyeball. The purpose of the retina is to receive light from the lens, convert that light to neural signals and then transmit them to the brain for visual recognition.


Retina’s Primary Function

The retina contains light-sensitive cells known as Photoreceptor cells that process light responsible for detecting qualities like color and light intensity.
There are ten layers of photoreceptor cells inside the retina that works together to detect color/light and turn it into electrical impulses. These cells are divided into cones and rods.

  • Cones are a type of photoreceptor cell located in the central, or macula, part of the retina. Cones help with color vision and fine detail. The macula allows the eye to small details and focuses on very specific aspects of what you are looking at.
  • Rods are cylindrical-shaped photoreceptor cells located in the peripheral, or outer, part of the retina. Rods are responsible for vision at low light levels and also aid in peripheral vision.
Photoreceptor cells gather visual information that is processed by the retina and send this information to the brain via the optic nerve.

Retina Problems

The retina is fragile that can be damaged by a wide range of factors; including traumas, chronic conditions, and other underlying health issues.

Let us take a look at some common retinal problems

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is a problem with your retina that is the most common cause of blindness in adults over the age of 65. This kind of retinal problem happens when the central portion of the retina called the macular gets deteriorated causing blurred vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication and is the most common cause of blindness in adults in the Western World. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye leading to significant vision loss.

Macular Hole


Macular hole is a rare eye conditions that can blur central vision. This eye condition happens when there is a small break in the macula that is responsible for central vision.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment describes an emergency in which the thin layer of tissue that is the retina separates from its blood supply.

About Retina Health

The retina is a delicate part of the eyeball that needs to be kept up and cared for. If we talk about retinal conditions then in many conditions there may be only minor symptoms. To preserve your vision, it’s important to remain proactive. If you are experiencing the risk of the retinal condition and learn more about the retinal condition, reach out to us today at windy city retina.