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The Human Eye With Macular Center Of Vision Marked By Arrow Adjacent To The Optic Nerve.

Glossary Of Retinal Anatomy & Macular Pathology Terms

Cellophane maculopathy An abnormal wrinkled appearance of the macular surface, similar to crushed cellophane wrap, distinct from EMP which is more substantial.

Drusen Tiny white deposits in the retina beneath the retinal pigment epithelial layer. Associated with aging changes of the retina as in macular degeneration.

Degenerative vitreous syndrome (DVS) The spontaneous occurrence in the aging vitreous of opacities (floaters) that substantially interfere with activities of daily living.

EpiMacular Proliferation (EMP) A proliferation of fibrocellular membranes which overly the macula and contract, resulting in distorted vision.

EpiMacular Proliferation- Internal Limiting Membrane complex The combination of epimacular proliferation (EMP) with the internal limiting membrane, (ILM) May also be called epiretinal proliferation (ERM).

Equator An imaginary anatomical line or circle dividing the eye in half--front from back portions of the retina.

Fluidic Internal Limiting Membrane Separation (FILMS) Surgical technique for floating EMP and ILM off the neurosensory retinal layer by liquid pressure.

Forceps removal of EMP Intraocular surgery technique for dissecting membranes, and sometimes ILM, from neurosensory retina with a tweezer-like technique.

Fovea The center of the macula. The point of best vision.

Internal Limiting Membrane (ILM) Anatomical innermost layer of the retina.

Intravitreal Injection Injection of medication, air, or gas into the vitreous cavity.  May be done in the office setting or in combination with other surgical procedures in the operating room.

IVK intravitreal injection of Kenalog (intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide) steroidal antiinflammatory drug administered intraocularly for various retinal pathology

Macula The area of the retina responsible for detail vision, like reading and recognizing faces, and color vision.

Maculopathy Any abnormal condition of the macula.

Macular Degeneration Any deterioration of the macula tissue. Most commonly used to describe Age Related Macular Degeneration, (AMD),a condition characterized by pigment and blood vessel deterioration beneath the neurosensory macula.  

Dry AMD
Characterized by the presence of drusen and changes to the retinal pigment. Progressive changes may cause difficulty in reading and in later stages may result in a loss of central vision. Usually affects both eyes and vision loss is gradual
Wet AMD
Characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels immediately beneath the retina. These vessels known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leak and bleed resulting in damage to the macula with loss of central vision. Vision loss may be sudden.

Macular Edema Swelling of the retina in the area of the macula--may be associated with various retinal conditions for example as in diabetic retinopathy.

Macular Hole A full thickness defect of the neurosensory retina at the fovea, ultimately causing legal blindness.

Macular Pucker Wrinkling of the internal limiting membrane and the neural retina layer caused by EMP resulting in distorted vision.

Neurosensory (neural) retina That portion of the retinal tissue electrical that is directly responsible for creating impulses interpreted by the brain as vision.

Ora Secunda Clerglage (OSC) Encircling grid laser treatment by indirect ophthalmoscope (IDO) delivery to the peripheral retina, from the ora serrata to approximately the equator, thus effectively producing a “second ora” (ora secunda) posterior to the vitreous base for the prevention of retinal detachment.  

Ora serrata The saw-toothed shaped border between the retina and the ciliary body. This junction marks the transition from the non-seeing area of the retina to the multi-layered photosensitive region of the retina responsible for vision.

Pneumatic maculopexy Intraocular injection of long-acting gas bubble to tamponade macula.

Retina Anatomical layered, light-sensitive nerve tissue lining the interior of the eye allowing the transmission of electrical impulses to the brain interpreted as vision.

Retinal detachment Separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium.

Traction Contraction of opposing membranes acting to distort or detach underlying retinal tissue from its normal anatomical position and function.

Traction maculopathy Any abnormal condition of the macula caused by traction forces.

Vitreous Transparent, inert, jelly-like substance that fills the interior of the eye.

Vitrectomy Microsurgical technique for removing the vitreous from the eye, done alone for some vitreal disorders and in combination with other procedures for some retinal conditions.

Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome (VMTS) Traction maculopathy caused by contracting forces of abnormal vitreous adherence forces of abnormal vitreous adherence to the macula, from posterior (back) to anterior (front), seen in some conditions of macula edema, differentiated from tangential (side to side) traction as seen in cellophane maculopathy, macular pucker, or macular hole conditions.

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rev. Oct 2008

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