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Glite Dictionary
retinitis

retinitis

3 7.9
Swelling of the back part of the eye that often causes vision problems
  • noun
  • /ˌrɛtəˈnaɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : retinitis
  • The doctor explained that inflammation in the retina caused his retinitis.
  • retinitis pigmentosa
  • HCMV retinitis
  • diagnosed with retinitis

Examples

  • Due to retinitis, she experienced gradual vision loss over the years.

  • Many people with retinitis have trouble seeing in low light conditions.

  • We report a 35-year-old man with retinitis who refused treatment.

    Academic text (1995)

  • And a case of retinitis pigmentosa thrown in for good measure.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that causes both sight and hearing loss.

    Academic text (2010)

  • His two older brothers have retinitis pigmentosa, and both experienced large visual field losses during their high school years.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Tunnel vision is the end result of retinitis pigmentosa.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Treatment is rarely curative, but the progression of retinitis is delayed.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The untreated course of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS is unknown.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Currently, there is no cure for macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa.

    Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

retinopathy
vsretinitis
  • Specialized
2 8.1

A disease of the back part of the eye that can cause loss of sight

is inflammation of the eye's light-sensitive layer rather than any disease
eye disease
vsretinitis
  • Specialized
2 3.3

A health problem that affects the eye and can harm vision

is inflammation of a specific internal layer rather than any eye illness
chorioretinitis
vsretinitis
  • Specialized
9.9

Swelling at the back of the eye that can cause vision problems

is limited to one internal layer rather than several layers at the back

Compounds

retinitis pigmentosa
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A genetic eye disease that slowly damages the back of the eye and causes vision loss

How Serious

retinoblastoma
  • Specialized
1 9.9
retinitis pigmentosa
  • Specialized
1 7.6
retinal detachment
  • Specialized
1 6.9
retinitis
  • Specialized
3 7.9

Surface Forms

retinitis singular
retinitises plural

Morphology

retinitis = retina (semi-transparent) = retina + itis

Formation from 'retina' + the medical suffix 'itis' is regular and predictable, but '-itis' is specialized medical morphology that not all learners know.

Etymology

The word retinitis comes from retina 'net' because the back of the eye is like a net that catches light, and the ending -itis means 'inflammation', as in arthritis. So retinitis is inflammation or swelling of that net-like part of the eye, which is why it causes vision problems.