Retina Services

When the vitreous, the gel-like fluid that fills the space in the center of your eye, contracts and pulls on the retina, it can tear the tissue. This condition is often characterized by sudden symptoms, like flashing lights and floaters.

When fluid accumulates under the retina, it causes the retina to lift and detach from the underlying eye tissues. This is called retinal detachment.

Patients with diabetes may develop a discharge fluid into the retina or beneath its tissue, and this is called diabetic retinopathy. When this happens, the retina expands and blurs or distorts the vision. 

Macular degeneration is a condition where the central region of the retina starts to deteriorate. Symptoms include blurriness or the development of a blind spot.

Age-related macular degeneration causes vision loss in people over the age of 55. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow and potentially stop its progression.

Retinal disease symptoms may include:

• Eye floaters
• Light flashes
• Blurred or distorted vision
• Side vision distortion
• Lost vision 

When the retina cells that receive and organize visual information become damaged by a disease or condition, your vision becomes impaired. The following factors can increase the probability of developing retina issues:

• Aging
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Eye trauma
• Genetics

Our specialists might ask about your medical or family history of eye diseases during your eye exam. Knowing about your lifestyle and family can help determine if you have a retinal disease. 

Your ophthalmologist may perform multiple painless and quick tests, including:

• Amsler grid test
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• Fundus autofluorescence (FAF)
• Fluorescein angiography
• Ultrasound

To stop or slow disease progression, your doctor may follow one or more of the following options:

• Vitreoretinal surgery
  A laser will create scarring for patients with a retinal tear or hole that will weld the retina to the underlying tissue. This treatment can decrease the chance of developing retinal detachment. Although patients must plan on time for recovery after the surgery, this treatment is minimally invasive. Most patients usually have fast and successful results. 

• Shrinking blood vessels
  This surgical treatment helps to stop bleeding from blood vessels. It may help patients who have diabetic retinopathy. 

• Injecting medicine into the eye
  For people with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or broken blood vessels, this treatment may be ideal. 

• Evacuating and replacing eye fluid (vitrectomy)
  During surgery, your doctor will remove the fluid that fills the inside of your eye and will replace it.