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Disease

Retinoschisis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition: Retinoschisis is an uncommon eye disease of the nerve tissue in the eye.  It is characterized by the abnormal splitting of the retina's sensory layers within the macula (the central fixation point of vision at the back of the eye) resulting in loss of visual function. The retina, which consists of multiple layers of interconnected nerve and pigment cells, separates into separate layers resulting in a loss of vision in the corresponding visual field.  Retinoschisis is technically a form of macular degeneration. However there are different types of macular degeneration and many people diagnosed with macular degeneration do not have retinoschisis.

The most common is an acquired form that affects both men and women. It usually occurs in middle age or beyond, although it can occur earlier, and it is sometimes known as senile retinoschisis. The other form is present at birth (congenital) and affects mostly boys and young men.  It is estimated that retinoschisis affects one in 5,000 to 25,000 individuals. Juvenile, X-linked retinoschisis is a genetic eye disease that affects the vision of men who inherit the disease from their mothers. This condition frequently starts during childhood in which affected boys inherit this trait from their mothers who carry the condition but retain normal vision.

Signs & Symptoms: The disorder is characterized by a slow, progressive loss of parts of the field of vision corresponding to the areas of the retina that have become split. Either form may be associated with the development of saclike blisters (cysts) in the retina.

Treatment: Currently, there are no medical or surgical treatments available for retinoschisis.  Retinoschisis causes acuity loss in the center of the visual field through the formation of tiny cysts in the retina, often forming a "spoke-wheel" pattern that can be very subtle. The cysts are usually only detectable by a trained clinician. Vision cannot be improved by glasses, as the nerve tissue itself is damaged by these cysts. Furthermore, peripheral vision can be lost due to the splitting of the inner layer of nerve cells from the outer layer of cells.
If the anchoring of the outer layer of the retina to the eye wall is impaired, retinal detachments can occur. Retinal detachments can be treated surgically when detected early, but the root cause - the splitting of the retina - cannot be corrected by current medications or surgeries. Since retinoschisis can be confused with other eye diseases such as lazy eye, it is important that a thorough exam be done by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to ensure that retinal detachment is not overlooked.