Retinal detachment occurs when the retina—the light-sensitive membrane that lines the inside of the back of the eye—lifts away from the choroid, the layer of blood vessels beneath the retina that supplies the eye with oxygen and nutrients. In most…
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disorder in which changes in the blood vessels of the retina (the light-sensitive membrane that lines the back of the eye) can lead to vision loss or blindness. The disorder occurs in people who have…
Macular degeneration is a disease characterized by irreversible deterioration of the light-sensitive cells of the macula—the part of the retina (the light-sensitive membrane lining the back of the eye) that provides sharp focus in the center of the field of…
Deep Vein Thrombosis Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus), which can partially or completely block a blood vessel. If a blood clot forms in a deeper vein, the condition is called deep vein thrombosis. Although deep vein…
Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary embolism usually occurs as a serious complication of deep vein thrombosis. A blood clot detaches from the wall of a deep vein and moves into the bloodstream, through the heart, and through the pulmonary artery to the…
Thrombophlebitis Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, usually caused by infection or injury. When phlebitis occurs, blood flow through the roughened, swollen vein may become sluggish, encouraging blood clots (thrombi) to develop and adhere to the walls of the vein.…
Varicose Veins Varicose veins are veins directly beneath the skin that have become stretched and twisted over time. This condition usually occurs in the legs when veins lose their elasticity and widen, causing the edges of the valves inside the…
