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Lattice degeneration is a condition where the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, becomes thin in certain spots. This thinning happens in the peripheral retina, which is responsible for your side vision. Sometimes these thin areas have a crisscross pattern, like a lattice. The condition itself is common and usually does not cause problems.
read more about lattice degeneration ...Most people with lattice degeneration have no symptoms at all. The condition is typically discovered during a routine dilated eye exam. However, lattice degeneration can make the retina weaker and more prone to tearing. If a tear occurs, you might notice symptoms like a sudden increase in eye floaters, seeing flashes of light in your side vision, or a shadow appearing in your vision.
The biggest concern with lattice degeneration is that it increases the risk of a retinal detachment. The thin, weak spots can sometimes tear. If a tear happens, the fluid inside your eye can leak through it and lift the retina off the back of the eye. This is a retinal detachment, a serious problem that requires urgent surgery to prevent permanent vision loss. While the risk is higher, most people with lattice do not get a retinal detachment.
There is no treatment to fix the thin spots of the retina. If you have lattice degeneration without any tears, your eye doctor will simply monitor it with regular dilated eye exams. If a retinal tear does develop, your doctor may perform a laser or freezing procedure to seal the tear. This is done to prevent it from turning into a full retinal detachment.
Within the patches of lattice degeneration, doctors often find "atrophic holes." These are tiny, round breaks where the retinal tissue has withered away completely. While the word "hole" sounds scary, atrophic holes inside lattice degeneration are usually less dangerous than "horseshoe tears" caused by vitreous traction. However, they still represent a weak point where fluid can seep under the retina, so they must be monitored closely.
To properly diagnose lattice degeneration, your doctor may perform "scleral depression." During this part of the exam, the doctor uses a small metal tool to gently press on the outside of your eyelid while looking through their headset. This pressure pushes the peripheral retina inward, bringing the lattice lesions into view and allowing the doctor to check for tiny tears that might be hidden in the far corners of the eye.
It is much more common in people who are nearsighted (have myopia). It can also run in families. About 1 in 10 people in the general population have it.
The condition itself does not cause vision loss because it affects the far edges of your vision. However, if it leads to a retinal detachment, that can cause severe and permanent vision loss.
For most people, no activity restrictions are needed. Your doctor will let you know if you should avoid activities that could cause a direct blow to the head or eyes.
If you have been told you have lattice degeneration, it is important to keep up with your regular eye exams. You should see an eye doctor immediately if you notice any new symptoms, such as a sudden shower of floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain-like shadow in your vision. These are warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment.
1. What Is Lattice Degeneration? American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-lattice-degeneration. January 9, 2026.
2. Lattice Degeneration: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/lattice-degeneration. July 17, 2024.
3. Lattice Degeneration. The American Society of Retina Specialists. https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/36/lattice-degeneration. Accessed March 31, 2026.
4. Retinal Detachment. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/retinal-detachment. November 5, 2025.
5. Interventions for Asymptomatic Retinal Breaks and Lattice Degeneration for Preventing Retinal Detachment. Charles P Wilkinson. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4423540/. September 5, 2014.