retinal

¹ American  

[ret-n-uhl] / ˈrɛt n əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the retina of the eye.

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retinal ² American  

[ret-n-al, -awl] / ˈrɛt nˌæl, -ˌɔl /

Also retinene

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an orange pigment, C 2 0 H 2 8 O, that is the active component of rhodopsin and is liberated upon the absorption of light in the vision cycle; vitamin A aldehyde.

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Etymology

Origin of retinal¹

First recorded in 1830–40; retin(a) + -al ¹

Origin of retinal²

First recorded in 1940–45; retin(a) + -al ³

Example Sentences

That painting was especially poignant for its connection to Gitter’s work as a retinal surgeon in New Orleans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Kurt Gitter, a retinal surgeon and art collector, died March 25 at age 89; he was known for donating over 850 works to 23 institutions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

"You certainly shouldn't ignore the symptoms of retinal detachment, because it can lead to loss of vision, and if it's left too late, it may be difficult to recover that vision," he said.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

That initial study found the implant was safe, remained securely positioned in the eye and was successfully absorbed into the retinal tissue.

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2026

My visor was a brand-new pair of Dinatro RLR-7800 WreckSpex, featuring a top-of-the-line virtual retinal display.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline