Vitreoretinal Diseases And Surgery Specialist

What is a vitreoretinal disease? 

Vitreoretinal disease refers to a group of diseases that affect your retina, macula, and vitreous fluid. 

The retina is a lining of tissues that conveys visual information to the optic nerve in your brain. The macula is at the center of your retina, and it focuses light to make your vision sharp. Vitreous fluid is a jelly-like substance that surrounds your retina. 

There are many different types of vitreoretinal diseases, like:

• Macular degeneration
• Retinal detachment or tear
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Macular hole

Vitreoretinal diseases are often a symptom of an underlying condition like diabetes, or other chronic health issues but are also closely linked to aging.

What are the symptoms of vitreoretinal disease?

Some signs of vitreoretinal disease are:

• Floaters
• Distorted central vision
• Difficulty reading 
• Extreme light sensitivity
• Sudden vision loss
• Reduced peripheral vision

Your retina and macula are crucial parts of your eye that enable you to see. Diseases that affect these components of your eye can temporarily or permanently reduce your vision, so it’s important to get treatment as soon as you notice any symptoms of vitreoretinal disease. This allows the team at Retina Specialists to treat the condition early and get better results.

How do you treat vitreoretinal disease?

At Retina Specialists, the team evaluates each case of vitreoretinal disease and prescribes individualized treatments that address your particular disease and its symptoms.

The team provides intraocular injections that deliver medication directly into your vitreous cavity to treat conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. These injections work to reduce your symptoms, restore your visual function, and prevent further damage to your eye. 

Your specialist may combine intraocular injections with other treatments that address your underlying condition. For example, if you have diabetic retinopathy, your specialist may suggest close monitoring of your blood sugar, modifications to your diet, and regular exercise. 

When do vitreoretinal diseases and surgery occur?

If your vitreoretinal condition is the result of a severe retinal detachment or tear, your specialist may suggest surgery to repair, restore, and preserve your remaining vision. 

During the procedure, your ophthalmologist removes the vitreous fluid in your eye to clear out the buildup of any foreign matter in the interior of your eye and inject the cleared area with saline liquid to replace the vitreous fluid.

To repair macular holes, and other issues resulting from vitreoretinal diseases, your surgeon may also suggest vitrectomy in which they remove the vitreous humor gel from your inner eye cavity to provide better access to your retina and perform repairs. 

Retina Specialists offers a range of treatments to address the various symptoms and causes of vitreoretinal disease. To learn more about vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, call or use the online scheduling tool to book your appointment today.