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

Johnston's team is continuing to improve its retinal organoids so they more closely resemble the function of the human retina.

From Science Daily • Jul. 9, 2026

A few meters away, 60-year-old Jose Manuel Garcia, who is blind in one eye and undergoing treatment for retinal detachment to save the other, was seeking passage home to the city of Santiago de Cuba.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

"This research highlights not only the potential of gene therapy to change what's possible for children with inherited retinal disease, but also the importance of developing age-appropriate outcome measures."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Severe myopia increases the risk of cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment later in life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

It was possible for hackers to use modded visors to spoof their retinal patterns and thus create a second account for themselves.

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