Color Changes of the Fundus, A Literature Review

The purpose of this literature review is to develop an analytical model of the pathological presentations of the fundus using published information. In order to create a comprehensible organization of retinal lesions, articles and books concerning histology of the retina were evaluated, and reports were used to form a logical model. The review is to serve as a guide for those learning the diseases of the fundus, as a methodical approach to understanding diverse color appearances indicative of possible retinal pathology. Various fundus diseases were assessed by their color presentations throughout the retinal layers, and arranged into five categories including the following: (1) white, (2) gray, (3) yellow, (4) black, and (5) red. The gathered published information was developed into a comprehensive color-based classification of commonly seen retinal pathology.