A Retina Specialist is a highly trained medical doctor that has completed extensive surgical training after medical school to diagnose and manage the full spectrum of diseases affecting the retina, macula, and vitreous.
All of Our Retina Specialists have completed:
- 4 years of Undergraduate Education
- 4 years of Medical School
- 1 year of Medical Internship
- 3 years of Ophthalmology Residency
- 2 years of Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellowship
Learn more about each of our Specialists:
Appointment Locations: Plano, DeSoto, Waxahachie
A native of Tennessee, Dr. Robert Torti started his journey within the field of Electrical Engineering, graduating with honors from Memphis University. After receiving vigorous training at the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dr. Torti began his Vitreoretinal practice in 1992.
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Torti continues to be a leader within the Vitreoretinal community of the Dallas Area and North Texas.
Education and Training
Undergraduate: Electrical Engineering – Memphis University, Herff College of Engineering, Memphis, Tennessee (Summa Cum Laude)
Medical School: University of Tennessee Medical School, Memphis, Tennessee (Alpha Omega Alpha)
Internship: University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Ophthalmology Residency: University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship: University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Awards and Honors: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
Interests: Motorbikes, Horse Breeding, Computer Programming, Snowboarding
Appointment Locations: Plano, DeSoto, Waxahachie
Born and bred in Southern California, Dr. Santosh Patel has become an integral member of the Dallas-Area Vitreoretinal community. After receiving world-class education on the East Coast, Dr. Patel returned to California, under the guidance of Dr. Baruch Kupperman, to complete his Vitreoretinal training. He joined Retina Specialists in 2006 and is Board Certified with the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In addition he is a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dr. Patel treats a variety of Vitreoretinal diseases, such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachments, Epiretinal Membranes, and Macular Holes. However, in his free time Dr. Patel enjoys traveling, photography and spending time with his wife and 2 children!
Education and Training
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts – Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Alpha Omega Alpha)
Internship: St. Mary Medical Center/UCLA, Long Beach, California
Ophthalmology Residency: Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship: Gavin Herbert Eye Institute/University of California, Irvine, California
Awards and Honors: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
D Magazine’s Best Doctors in Dallas (2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)
Interests: International Travel, Photography, Automobiles, Dallas Cowboys
Appointment Locations: Plano, DeSoto, Mesquite
Born in the New York Borough of Queens, Dr. Choi is a board certified diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Choi joined Retina Specialists in 2009 and his practice focuses on the Diseases and Surgery of the Retina, Vitreous, and Macula. He has a special interest in Complex Retinal Detachments and in the surgical management of Diabetic Retinopathy. When he isn’t helping cure blindness in our community, Dr. Choi enjoys spending time with his wife and family of 3 children.
Education and Training
Undergraduate: History – Columbia College, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Medical School: State University of New York (SUNY) at Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York
Internship: St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Manhattan, New York
Ophthalmology Residency: State University of New York (SUNY) at Downstate, Brooklyn, New York
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship: University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas
Academics: Voluntary professor of Ophthalmology (Vitreoretinal) at University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center Residency Program, Dallas, Texas
Interests: Snowboarding, New York Mets, Travelling with his wife and 3 children
Appointment Locations: Dallas, Mesquite, Waxahachie, DeSoto
Born in England, raised in Canada, trained in the United States, and now a proud Texan, Dr. Hemang K. Pandya is the newest addition to the Retina Specialists team!
Dr. Pandya earned his M.D., with Alpha Omega Alpha honors, from the Chicago Medical School. Dr. Pandya completed his Ophthalmology training, under the guidance of Vitreoretinal Leaders, Dr. Gary Abrams and Dr. Asheesh Tewari, at the renowned Kresge Eye Institute. Thereafter, Dr. Pandya completed a 2-year fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery at the prestigious Dean McGee Eye Institute.
During this extensive training, he focused on performing the latest surgical techniques for Retinal Detachment repair, Macular Puckers, Macular Holes, Diabetic Tractional Retinal Detachments, and a variety of other complex Vitreoretinal disorders. Clinically, Dr. Pandya specializes in the treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Vein Occlusions, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Watch Dr. Pandya’s Live TV Interview!)
Dr. Pandya is excited to be with Retina Specialists and strives to provide respectful and compassionate care for all of his patients.
Education and Training
Undergraduate: Biology – University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada (Summa Cum Laude)
Medical School: Chicago Medical School, Chicago, Illinois (Alpha Omega Alpha)
Internship: Crittenton Hospital, Rochester Hills, Michigan
Ophthalmology Residency: Kresge Eye Institute/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan
Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship: Dean McGee Eye Institute/University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Awards and Honors: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
Interests: Medical Mission Trips, Snowboarding, Wildlife Photography, Ice Hockey
In The Media:
- Dr. Pandya refers to the Retina as the ‘Engine of the Eye’ – the driving force behind vision.
- The Retina is a light sensitive tissue in the back portion of the eye.
- The Macula is central part of the Retina that is responsible for our central vision.
- The Vitreous is the ‘jelly’ in the back of the eye that can lead to floaters.
- Damage to these vital tissues can lead to decreased vision or complete blindness.
- Retina Specialists can evaluate symptoms of flashes, floaters, or decreased vision.
- Common Retina conditions include:
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Macular Degeneration
- Posterior Vitreous Detachment
- Retinal Tears and Detachments
- Epiretinal Membrane
- Vitreomacular Traction
- Macular Hole
- The most common cause of blindness in working-age adults in the Western World.
- Diabetes can affect the entire body, including the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain.
- Dr. Pandya says ‘you can lose your toes to diabetes, and your eyes are no different’.
- Anyone with diabetes can suffer from blindness, especially if his or her blood glucose and blood pressure is uncontrolled.
- Whenever blood flow to the Retina is compromised from diabetes and high blood pressure, the vital tissues of the Retina are subject to damage from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.
- The lack of oxygen and nutrients to the Retina may lead to formation of new blood vessels that are likely to ‘break open’ and cause bleeding within the Vitreous gel.
- Effectively, uncontrolled diabetes and associated diabetic retinopathy often leads to blindness.
- We strongly urge all of Our Patients to seek a primary care physician to help manage their diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat Diabetic Retinopathy.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
- A common cause of blindness in those with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smokers.
- These conditions affect the entire body, including your eyes, kidneys, heart and brain.
- Anyone with these conditions can suffer from blindness, especially if his or her blood glucose and blood pressure is uncontrolled.
- Whenever blood flow to the Retina is compromised from diabetes and high blood pressure, the vital tissues of the Retina are subject to damage from a lack of oxygen and nutrients.
- Damaged Retinal blood vessels can cause a blood clot to form and this leads to decreased vision.
- We strongly urge all of Our Patients to seek a primary care physician to help manage their diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat Retinal Vein Occlusions.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
- The most common cause of blindness in those over 65 years of age.
- Due to breakdown of the central Retina (Macula), leading to decreased central vision.
- Family history, smoking and uncontrolled blood pressure can cause this to develop.
- We encourage you to quit smoking – a major modifiable factor in this condition.
- If you are over 50 years old and have a family member with Macular Degeneration, please contact Retina Specialists for an evaluation.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat Macular Degeneration.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
For more information on Macular Degeneration, please watch Dr. Pandya’s live television interview:
- Condition where the Vitreous gel separates from the Retina leading to symptoms of ‘Flashes and Floaters’.
- Despite being a normal process of ‘growing up’, this may be a harbinger of Retinal Tears and/or Retinal Detachments – vision threatening conditions that require Retina Specialists.
- If you are having ‘Flashes and Floaters’, please contact Retina Specialists for an evaluation.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose Posterior Vitreous Detachments, and investigate for Retinal Tears and/or Retinal Detachments.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
- Separated and damaged Retina due to Vitreous gel ‘pulling’ on the Retina surface
- Often preceded by ‘Flashes and Floaters’, but may cause a ‘dark curtain’ over your eyesight.
- A ‘game-changing’ condition leading to vision loss unless repaired with surgery.
- Retinal Tears may be treated with laser treatment to prevent it from becoming a full-on Retinal Detachment – a condition requiring surgery in the operating room.
- If you are having ‘Flashes and Floaters’ or decreased vision, please contact Retina Specialists for an evaluation.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat both Retinal Tears and Retinal Detachments.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
For more information on Retinal Detachments, please read Dr. Pandya’s EMedicine Article on Retinal Detachments: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/798501-overview
- Also know as a ‘Macular Pucker’; scar tissue or ‘wrinkle’ over the surface of the central Retina (Macula) leading to distorted and blurred central vision.
- A normal process of ‘growing up’, but can be accelerated after trauma, inflammation, or eye surgery.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat Epiretinal Membranes.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
- Very ‘sticky’ Vitreous gel on the surface of the retina leading to distorted central vision.
- A normal process of ‘growing up’, but can be accelerated after trauma, inflammation, or eye surgery.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat Vitreomacular Traction.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
- Defect in the central Retina (Macula) leading to decreased central vision.
- Often occurring naturally due to age-related changes to the Vitreous gel, but may be accelerated after trauma, inflammation, or eye surgery.
- A time-sensitive condition requiring Retina Surgery to repair.
- Thankfully, Retina Specialists have the ability to diagnose and treat Macular Holes.
- Our goal is to maximize your vision and improve your quality of life.
