Retinal Anatomy and Pathology

Normal retina contains neuroretina and retinal pigment epithelium. The neuroretina consists of outer and inner segments of photoreceptors (rods and cones), external limiting membrane, outer nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, inner plexiform layer, ganglion cell layer, nerve fiber layer and internal limiting membrane. There is a broad spectrum of retinal pathology including congenital abnormalities, dystrophies, degenerations (notably age-related macular degeneration), retinal vascular diseases, toxicities, inflammatory diseases, neoplasms, retinal detachment, trauma and retinal involvement of systemic diseases. This chapter presents a few major pathological processes in retinal diseases, especially processes that are amenable to pharmacotherapeutics.