Retinal diseases lead to visual impairment in millions of patients worldwide. The typical pathological manifestations of Retinal diseases involve the degeneration and demise of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells, which lack the capacity for regeneration. 

Retinal disorders are conditions that affect any part of the retina. Some can mildly affect a person's vision, while others may lead to blindness.  

Retinal tear

A retinal tear happens when there is a tear or hole in the retina. This typically occurs when the vitreous, which is a jelly-like substance in the eye, attaches to the retina and pulls hard enough to tear it. This can happen when the vitreous detaches as part of the aging process, or it can result from trauma.

Retinal tears can cause blurry vision, the sudden onset of floaters, or flashes of light.

It is important for people to receive treatment for a retinal tear, as it may result in retinal detachment. This is a more serious condition that affects vision.

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment occurs when a buildup of fluid, which usually enters through a retinal tear, causes the retina to detach from the choroid, which is the eye layer that provides it with oxygen and nutrients.

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency that, without treatment, may lead to permanent vision loss.

Symptoms 

Retinal disorders can share a number of similar symptoms, which may include:

• seeing flashes of light
• the sudden appearance of floaters
• changes in vision
• blurry vision or a loss of vision in some areas of the visual field
• reduced central or side (peripheral) vision
• a sudden loss of vision
• changes in color perception
• difficulty seeing at night
• difficulty adjusting to light changes

Stem Cells for Retinal diseases

Stem cells have the capacity to enhance the microenvironment of the retina through the secretion of trophic factors and the regulation of the immune response. This, in turn, facilitates vascular repair and promotes the survival of cells.

The advanced phases of retinal detachment are distinguished by significant loss of retinal neurons. Consequently, the direct application of stem cells to replace these damaged neurons is a notable focus of research. Numerous studies have demonstrated that transplanted stem cells into the impaired retina can undergo differentiation into retinal cells, and they may even integrate into the retina, contributing to the restoration of visual function in cases of retinal detachment.