Retinitis

Retinitis: causes, symptoms, treatment and prognosis

Retinitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the retina of the eye. This is a serious disease that can lead to visual impairment and even complete loss of vision.

Causes of retinitis

Retinitis can happen for a variety of reasons. These may be infectious diseases such as influenza, rubella, measles, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, or intoxication, allergic conditions, endocrine disorders, metabolic disorders, the effects of radiant energy, eye injury. Some types of retinitis can be hereditary.

Pathogenesis of retinitis

Retinitis develops as a result of metastasis of the pathogen during bacteremia and in combination with the processes of allergy and immunoaggression. In this case, inflammation of the vessels of the retina occurs, which can lead to their expansion or narrowing. This can lead to hemorrhage and the formation of aneurysmal formations. The location of retinitis foci in different parts of the retina leads to different symptoms.

Symptoms of retinitis

In the fundus of the eye with retinitis, focal or diffuse opacities of white, gray or yellow color form, in which the vessels of the retina seem to drown. When the lesions are located in the macular zone, a star shape is formed. Hemorrhages and narrowing or dilation of the retinal vessels are also possible. When the process is located in the central region of the retina, a sharp decrease in vision, scotomas, “flickering of light” before the eyes (photopsia), distortion of objects (metamorphopsia), and impaired color perception occur. Damage to the periphery of the retina is accompanied by a concentric or sector-shaped narrowing of the visual field.

Treatment of retinitis

Treatment of retinitis involves eliminating the cause of the disease. For the infectious etiology of retinitis, antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral drugs are used. For the allergic and immunoaggressive nature of the disease, glucocorticosteroids and immunosuppressants are used. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

Retinitis prognosis

The prognosis of retinitis depends on the cause of the disease and the extent of damage to the retina. In severe cases, retinitis can lead to complete loss of vision. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and receive qualified medical care.

In conclusion, retinitis is a serious condition that requires careful diagnosis and treatment. Early identification of the cause of the disease and timely initiation of treatment will help avoid serious complications and preserve vision. Regular preventive examination by an ophthalmologist will also help detect retinitis at an early stage and prevent its development.

Retinitis (from the Greek rhoí - retina and -itis - a suffix denoting an inflammatory process) is the general name for inflammatory processes associated with the cornea in ophthalmology. Just like keratitis (damage to the cornea), the process can develop in almost any area of ​​the cornea, regardless of the cause of the disease. Corneal retinitis manifests itself as an inflammatory reaction, most pronounced in the peripheral parts, combined with burning, pain and stinging in the eyes, visual impairment (up to complete blindness). The disease is a complication of bacterial, viral and allergic processes affecting the human body as a whole. Infectious diseases such as whooping cough, meningitis and tuberculosis play an important role in the treatment of retinopathy. They can provoke inflammation in the epithelial layers of the iris, which, in turn, leads to damage to blood vessels and ocular tissues. What can cause retinopathy depends on the general condition of the patient's body. Inflammation in this disease is most often caused by staphylococcus.

Overall, corneal retinitis is a serious condition that can lead to vision loss. Therefore, it is important to detect the disease in time and begin treatment.