At Oakland Eye Care, our doctors are highly trained in modern retinal diagnosis and medical care. Retinal diseases can severely impact the eye and often affect vision. At the first sign of any visual disturbance, such as flashes, floaters, a curtain over the eye, or sudden or gradual blurred vision, it is crucial to consult your optometrist immediately.
Understanding the Retina:
The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye where light rays and images are focused. Tiny photoreceptor cells convert these images into electrical impulses, which are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve for visual interpretation. The macula, located at the center of the retina, is the most sensitive area and is essential for reading and straight-ahead vision. Diseases affecting the retina, particularly the macula, can lead to clouded and distorted vision, loss of peripheral vision, and eventually blindness. There are many types of retinal diseases.
Symptoms of Retinal Disease:
- Blurred vision, particularly when the macula is affected
- Waviness when viewing straight lines, such as grids
- A curtain-like effect over your vision, coming from above, below, or the sides
- Flashes of light in peripheral vision, especially at night
- Floaters, cobwebs, or worm-like shadows that move with eye movement, noticeable against solid backgrounds
Causes of Retinal Disease:
- – Infections: Bacterial, fungal, and viral
- – Age: Age-related changes can affect the macula
- – Heredity: Conditions like retinal dystrophies, which cause night vision loss, color vision loss, light sensitivity, or generalized blur from a young age and are often progressive
- – Eye Trauma
- – Systemic Diseases: Conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.
Diagnosing Retinal Disease:
- – An indirect ophthalmoscope is used to detect peripheral retinal diseases like retinal detachments.
- – A complete eye exam, including dilation and examination with special magnifying instruments, can diagnose chronic conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
- – Diagnostic tools may include photographs, fluorescein angiography to detect blood vessel leakage, and OCT scans to identify signs of elevation, fluid accumulation, scarring, or membrane formation.
Treatment for Retinal Disease:
Treatments vary depending on the condition and can include:
- – Preventative therapy with vitamins
- – Surgery for retinal detachment, performed either in-office or in a hospital
- – Laser treatment for diabetes to seal leaky blood vessels
- – Injections of medications such as LUCENTIS® and Avastin® to prevent abnormal blood vessels from growing in the retina and damaging central vision
At Oakland Eye Care, we are committed to providing advanced care to manage and treat retinal diseases effectively