Overview

The retina and vitreous are essential to our vision. The retina is a delicate, multilayered light-sensitive membrane lining the inside wall at the back of the eye. It is connected by the optic nerve to the brain. The macula, at the center of the retina, creates our ability to see detail. The central pit in the macula that produces the sharpest vision is the fovea. Surrounding the macula is the peripheral retina, which enables our peripheral vision. Attached to the retina, the vitreous is a gel-like substance that fills the eyeball between the lens and the retina. When the retina or vitreous are damaged from injuries, infections, illness, aging and diseases such as diabetes, vision can become impaired.