Retinal Degenerations
In this photo, the dark area between the two light reflections is a tuft of retina that is often mistaken for a small retinal tear.
What are Retinal Degenerations?
Peripheral retinal degeneration is a term used to describe a group of changes that can occur at the edge of your retina. The changes are often named by their appearance: snail track degeneration, lattice degeneration, pavingstone degeneration, white with pressure and white without pressure. Retinoschisis is another common type of degeneration. In this condition, the retina splits into two layers.
What are the symptoms of retinal degeneration?
The majority of these degenerations do not cause any symptoms and are identified at routine eye checks. However, some conditions such as white without pressure and retinoschisis may be difficult to distinguish from retinal detachment and you may be referred to a vitreoretinal specialist for a second opinion.
How do you treat retinal degeneration?
By themselves, these changes do not require any treatment. However, sometimes retinal defects may develop with them. These defects have a low risk of causing retinal detachments and may require laser treatment similar to a retinal tear.