The retina is the sensory membrane that lines the inner surface of the back of the eyeball. It’s composed of several layers, including one that contains specialized cells called photoreceptors . There are two types of photoreceptor cells in the human eye — rods and cones.
Is the retina part of the optic nerve?
The optic nerve connects the retina to the visual cortex in the back of the brain . Increased intracranial pressure, tumours, and increased vascular pressure in the eye are possible mechanisms by which the optic nerve can become damaged, impairing vision.
Is the Retina a nerve?
Consistent with its status as a full- fledged part of the central nervous system , the retina comprises complex neural circuitry that converts the graded electrical activity of photoreceptors into action potentials that travel to the brain via axons in the optic nerve.
Is retina a nerve cell?
The retina of your eye consists of many interconnected layers of nerve cells , some of which are sensitive to light. Most people have heard of the two types of photoreceptors used to form images: the rod and cone cells.
What is the retina?
The retina contains millions of light-sensitive cells (rods and cones) and other nerve cells that receive and organize visual information. Your retina sends this information to your brain through your optic nerve, enabling you to see.
What are signs of optic nerve damage?
- Abnormal pupil size and nonreactivity to light.
- Bulging of the eyes.
- Complete or partial loss of vision.
- Diminished ability to see fine details.
- Diminished color vision or colors seem faded.
- Dimming or blurring of vision.
- Double vision.
- Eye redness.
What diseases cause optic nerve damage?
Some of the more common eye diseases that cause optic nerve damage include glaucoma, optic neuritis, optic nerve atrophy and optic nerve head drusen . Glaucoma a leading cause of blindness in the worldwide as reported by WHO.
What is the purpose of the retina in the eye?
The retina is an essential part of the eye that enables vision. It’s a thin layer of tissue that covers approximately 65 percent of the back of the eye, near the optic nerve. Its job is to receive light from the lens, convert it to neural signals and transmit them to the brain for visual recognition .
What is retina in simple words?
Retina: The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye , senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. There is a small area, called the macula, in the retina that contains special light-sensitive cells. The macula allows us to see fine details clearly.
What would happen if the retina got folded and wrinkled?
When the scar tissue contracts , it causes the retina to wrinkle, or pucker, usually without any effect on central vision. However, if the scar tissue has formed over the macula, our sharp, central vision becomes blurred and distorted.
Can a retina regenerate?
Unlike in fish and frogs, the human retina doesn’t regenerate , and the vision loss caused by damage to cells in the back of the eye – be it genetic or physical – can rarely be fixed.
What are the nerve cells in the retina?
There are five types of neurons in the retina: photoreceptors, bipolar cells, ganglion cells, horizontal cells, and amacrine cells .
What part of the retina is responsible for the sharpest vision?
The macula is the center portion of the retina that produces even sharper vision with its rods and cones. The fovea is the pit inside the macula with only cones, so vision can be at its sharpest.
What are the signs of retina problems?
- Dim central vision.
- Distorted central vision.
- Straight lines that appear wavy.
- Spots in the central vision that may appear blurry or dark.
- Images that appear then disappear.
- Double Vision.
- Floaters.
- Flashing Lights.
Can stress cause retinal detachment?
The simple answer is no, stress cannot cause retinal detachment . Retinal detachment is due to tears in the peripheral retina. Retinal detachment occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 people and can occur at any age but is more likely to affect people over age 40.
Is retinal damage reversible?
In many cases, damage that has already occurred can’t be reversed , making early detection important. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best treatment. Treatment of retinal disease may be complex and sometimes urgent.
