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The Eye Institute’s Retina Service is devoted to treating diseases and injuries of the retina (the sensitive inner lining of the eye that transforms light into nerve signals) and the vitreous (the clear, gel-like fluid that fills the eyeball). Physicians in this unit have a special interest in diseases of the retinal blood vessels, as well as retinal inflammations, tumors and injuries.
There is no single set of symptoms for vitreoretinal problems, but common signs of trouble here are wavy vision, floaters and flashes, and sudden painless loss of sight. Some of the most common vitreoretinal conditions include diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and uveitis.
Several retinal conditions respond well to laser therapy. Retinopathy, for example, can be successfully controlled by using lasers to seal abnormal blood vessels. There are also a number of surgical procedures for addressing retinal and vitreal conditions, including retinal detachment surgery and vitrectomy (completely removing a clouded vitreous and replacing it with a salt water solution).
The Eye Institute researchers place special emphasis on retinal diseases and have conducted several studies on macular degeneration. The Eye Institute has also been involved in several nationwide clinical trials to assess treatment options for a number of retinal conditions, including a recent study testing an implanted sustained-release device that delivers a steroid medication to reduce retina swelling.
The Eye Institute’s Diagnostics Lab offers a full complement of state-of-the-art technology for diagnosing retinal and vitreous diseases. Common tests for these disorders include ultrasound, electrophysiology and fluorescein angiography.
Author: Dale K. Heuer, MD Date: Sept. 14, 2004 |
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