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Retina

The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball. Images that come through the eye's lens are focused on the retina. The retina then converts these images to electric signals and sends them along the optic nerve to the brain.

The retina most often looks red or orange because there are many blood vessels right behind it. An ophthalmoscope allows your health care provider to see through your pupil and lens to the retina. Sometimes photos or special scans of the retina can show things that the provider cannot see just by looking at the retina through the ophthalmoscope. If other eye problems block the provider's view of the retina, ultrasound can be used.

Anyone who experiences these vision problems should get a retinal examination:

  • Changes in sharpness of vision
  • Loss of color perception
  • Flashes of light or floaters
  • Distorted vision (straight lines look wavy)

Video Transcript

Retina - Animation

As light enters the eye, it strikes the receptor cells of the retina called the rods and cones. A chemical reaction results in the formation of electric impulses, which then travel to the brain through the optic nerve.

Text only

Review Date: 4/1/2025

Reviewed By

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Cioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.

Reh TA, Eldred KC, Sridhar A. The development of the retina. In: Sadda SVR, Sarraf D, Freund KB, et al, eds. Ryan's Retina. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 15.

Schubert HD. Structure of the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.1.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Retina

Retina

Animation

Eye - Illustration Thumbnail

Eye

The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer (sclera, or "white of the eye", and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (retina) is sensory nerve tissue that is light sensitive. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.

Illustration

 
Retina

Retina

Animation

 
Eye - Illustration Thumbnail

Eye

The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer (sclera, or "white of the eye", and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (retina) is sensory nerve tissue that is light sensitive. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.

Illustration

 
 
 

Retina - Animation

As light enters the eye, it strikes receptor cells on the retina called rods and cones. The light triggers a chemical reaction in the cells, which then send electric impulses through the optic nerve to the brain.

 

Retina - Animation

As light enters the eye, it strikes receptor cells on the retina called rods and cones. The light triggers a chemical reaction in the cells, which then send electric impulses through the optic nerve to the brain.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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