The retina is the part of your eye that senses light and sends signals that your brain uses to form images. If the layers of your retina splits, it’s called retinoschisis. This can affect your vision in the places that the split happens, either on the side or in the middle of the retina.
Retinoschisis is a condition that happens when your retina divides into two or more layers. Schisis means a split or a cleft.
Retinoschisis affects the light-sensing layer of your retina and the layer of cells that transmits signals to your brain through the optic nerve. This division of the layers can affect how well you see. Splits can occur in the center of the retina but are more likely at the periphery (outer edges).
There are two types of this somewhat rare disorder: acquired or congenital.
Degenerative retinoschisis usually occurs in people in their 50s, 60s and 70s. For that reason, another name for it is senile retinoschisis. However, it can sometimes happen to younger people as well.
Degenerative retinoschisis can be flat (typical) or bullous (reticular), which means blistered. (Bullae are blisters). These two types are difficult to tell apart, but the bullous type is more likely to develop into retinal holes and retinal detachment.
Myopic macular schisis has other names—myopic traction maculopathy or myopic foveoschisis. It refers to a retinal layer split located at the fovea. The macula is the central part of your retina. The fovea is the central point of the macula. It happens in people who have severe myopia (nearsightedness).
A congenital condition is something you’re born with. The name for this form of the condition is juvenile X-linked retinoschisis. It usually affects both eyes.
Congenital retinoschisis mostly affects people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Their mothers carry the gene but often don’t develop the condition.
Retinal detachment means that the retina has pulled away from the tissues that support it. Retinoschisis means that the retina itself has split. The difference may be difficult to see even for an ophthalmologist, but testing will help your provider be sure about the diagnosis.
It’s possible to have both retinal detachment and retinoschisis at the same time, especially if you have the congenital form.
Researchers estimate that juvenile X-linked retinoschisis (congenital retinoschisis) happens in about 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 25,000 people.
Degenerative retinoschisis affects an estimated 4% of people over age 40, although another estimate puts the figure at 1% to 4% of people over age 50.
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You may have no symptoms of the disease. If you do, symptoms that may happen with juvenile X-linked retinoschisis include:
If you’ve developed acquired retinoschisis, you might find that you can’t see clearly on either side (loss of peripheral vision). You may not have any symptoms at all.
If you have retinoschisis and it becomes severe, or you also have retinal detachment, you may notice:
A genetic mutation, or a change in your genes, causes congenital retinoschisis in many cases. The X-linked factor is related to the genes you get from your mother.
Scientists haven’t found the cause of acquired retinoschisis. The risk does increase with age, especially after age 40.
This condition is most often diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the eyes. After your comprehensive eye exam, these are the most likely tests you will receive to make the diagnosis:
You can’t cure retinoschisis, but you can manage it. You may need glasses to help with your vision or other low vision aids.
If you have acquired retinoschisis, you might not need treatment. Your provider may consider this condition to be benign, which means that the condition may not be serious enough to need treatment. You may need glasses for refractive errors like being nearsighted or farsighted.
If you have juvenile X-linked retinoschisis, you also may need glasses for refractive errors.
If you develop bleeding in your eyes from broken blood vessels, your provider may suggest cryoablation (cold therapy) or laser therapy to stop the bleeding.
If you develop a retinal detachment, you’ll need surgery to re-attach the retina.
Researchers continue to work on potential treatments for juvenile X-linked retinoschisis, including gene therapy, stem-cell therapy and a drug called dorzolamide.
You can’t prevent retinoschisis.
There’s no known cause of acquired retinoschisis. If juvenile X-linked retinoschisis runs in your family, you may want to ask your provider about speaking to a genetic counselor.
There is no cure for retinoschisis. It may result in considerable vision loss, even to the point of being legally blind. However, some people don’t need any type of treatment.
One of the main things you can do if you have retinoschisis is to have regular eye exams.
You may find it helpful to use low vision aids and to become educated on mobility, orientation and using adaptive technology. This is true if you have retinoschisis and if you have a child with retinoschisis.
You should always let your healthcare provider know about any change in vision.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Losing any amount of vision can be a scary thing. It’s important to know that you don’t have to manage everything on your own. Keep your regular appointments with your eye care professional. Ask your healthcare team for information on support groups and other resources. Take advantage of the services they offer. The range of services is very broad and can include education, fellowship and technological help.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/18/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy