what to expect
How to prepare for your visit
How to prepare for your visit
How to prepare for your visit
- Your eyes will be dilated for a thorough exam of the retina. Bring a driver and/or sunglasses.
- Avoid heavy eye makeup and wash eyes to avoid infection.
- Bring a list of your medications, allergies, doctor names, insurances and past medical history.
- Allow 1-2 hrs for your visit.
- Additional testing may be done to thoroughly diagnose or classify your condition.
- Treatment may be done at the same time of your visit to provide you with timely care.
- A family member / friend is welcome to come with you to be involved in the discussion of your condition.
- Please be patient because retina providers deal with many emergencies in the community.
- A copy of your visit summary will be sent to your referring doctor.
Additional Tests
How to prepare for your visit
How to prepare for your visit
In addition to your eye exam, the doctor may decide to perform ancillary tests to diagnose and monitor your retinal condition such as:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) a light scan of the layers of the retina
- Fluorescein Angiogram (FA) a dynamic study of the blood flow in the superficial retinal circulation
-Indocyanine green angiography (Icg) a dynamic study of the blood flow in the deep retinal circulation
- Ultrasound (Bscan); a sound probe to show the deep structures of the eye when there is no view.
- Fundus Photography : a color photo of the back of the eye to document and monitor diseases of the retina
Treatments
How to prepare for your visit
Treatments
- Intravitreal injections: after numbing the eye, medicine is injected into the eye to treat retinal disease.
- Aqueous or Vitreous tap: after numbing the eye, fluid is aspirated from the eye for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
- Laser : direct laser light can be used to weld breaks in the retina, stimulate retina cells, cauterize retinal bleeding and annihilate dead retina.
- Intravitreal gas injections: a sterile gas can be injected into the eye for a small retinal detachment or to lyse adhesions.
Common Retinal Disorders
Epiretinal Membrane
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Epiretinal membrane is a delicate tissue-like scar or membrane that looks like wrinkled cellophane lying on top of the retina. This membrane pulls up on the retina, which distorts your vision. Objects may appear blurred or crooked.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetes, the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in the back of your eye can deteriorate and leak fluid into and under the retina. This causes the retina to swell, which may blur or distort your vision. Worse, you may develop abnormal capillaries that break and bleed and can be detrimental to your vision.
Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Retinopathy
Macular Degeneration
In macular degeneration, the center of your retina begins to deteriorate. This causes symptoms such as blurred central vision or a blind spot in the center of the visual field. There are two types — wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Many people will first have the dry form, which can progress to the wet form in one or both eyes.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Macular Degeneration
A retinal detachment is defined by the presence of fluid under the retina. This usually occurs when fluid passes through a retinal tear, causing the retina to lift away from the underlying tissue layers.
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal Vein Occlusion
The Retina is a highly vascularized organ that depends on an intricate network of small blood vessels for its high oxygen demand. Therefore, if there is any form of obstruction of the flow of the blood supply to the retina, this can lead to suffocation and damage of the tissue.
Retinal Tear
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal Vein Occlusion
A retinal tear occurs when the clear, gel-like substance in the center of your eye (vitreous) shrinks and tugs on the thin layer of tissue lining the back of your eye (retina) with enough traction to cause a break in the tissue. It's often accompanied by the sudden onset of symptoms such as floaters and flashing lights.
Macular Hole
Flashes and Floaters
Retinitis Pigmentosa
A macular hole is a small defect in the center of the retina at the back of your eye (macula). The hole may develop from abnormal traction between the retina and the vitreous, or it may follow an injury to the eye.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Flashes and Floaters
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited degenerative disease. It slowly affects the retina and causes loss of night and side vision.
Flashes and Floaters
Flashes and Floaters
Flashes and Floaters
The globe of the eye is full of a gelatin called the vitreous body. Floaters look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. While they seem to be in front of your eye, they are floating inside. Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that fills your eye. What you see are the shadows these clumps cast on your retina.