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

Syfovre is Apellis’ treatment for geographic atrophy, an immune-mediated retinal disease.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 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

"Stem cell-derived retinal implants may offer one of the greatest possibilities for helping patients with dry age-related macular degeneration and one day, may offer a cure."

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2026

Because they were going into the Research and Development section, security was intense and included photographs, retinal imaging, and a full-body scanner.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti