The retina is the membrane that lines the inside of the eye. Think of it like film in a camera. Images are captured on the retina, encoded, and then sent to the brain via the optic nerve. Attached to certain areas of the retina is the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills the inside of the eye, giving it shape and volume. Image on right
Many retinal diseases share common symptoms and treatments, but each has unique characteristics. The goal of retinal disease treatments is to stop or slow disease progression and preserve, improve or restore vision.
We perform thefollowing retinal tests:
Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in older Americans. There are two types: dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration.Dry macular degeneration is diagnosed when drusen (deposits)accumulate under the retina. This causes the vision to dim or be distorted. Most people notice this more when they read. In the advanced stages the loss of the central vision can occur.
Sometimes, drusen can lead to the development of new blood vessels under the retina. These new blood vessels leak fluid and blood under the retina. If this leakage occurs in the center of the retina, or macula, our vision becomes blurry, this is known as wet macular degeneration.
We can treat dry macular degeneration with special vitamins to help prevent the development of wet macular degeneration. We have three options with which to treat wet macular degeneration:
Although only about 10% of people with macular degeneration develop the wet form, they make up the majority of those who experience serious vision loss from the disease. It is very important for people with macular degeneration to monitor their eyesight carefully and see their ophthalmologist on a regular basis.
Retinal damages,while common, are typically less well-known than other ocular diseases. That said, the best way to prevent or detect retinal damage or disease is to visit your eye doctor regularly for examination.Several factors can damage the retina, including (but not limited to):
When the retina is damaged from disease or injury, vision loss occurs. Most times, this vision loss may not
be restored by treatments. Doctors can always do their best to stop or slow progression of a disease,
however. This means that, when caught early on, most retinal disease is manageable and vision loss can be
minimal.
If you’re having a Retina specialist appointment, it's helpful to keep these things in mind.
The entire appointment, including waiting time between tests, may take up to 2 hours (or longer). Please prepare yourself and your driver or companion for this. Time spent at this appointment is not wasted time, it is an investment in your eye health.
Appointments with a specialist can be time-sensitive. The doctor may have ordered that you be examined within a specific time frame so as not to allow disease progression. If you cannot keep this appointment, please contact the office as soon as possible.
