Vitreo-Retina

Vitreous is the jelly like fluid which fills the cavity of eyeball. It is optically clear & in appearance very much resembles the white of an egg. It is strongly attached to retina. Retina is the light-sensitive inner lining of the posterior wall of the eyeball. Images focused here by the lens of the eye are transmitted to the brain as nerve impulses via the optic nerve.

 

 

Who is Vitreo-Retina specialist?

Vitreo-Retina specialist is an Ophthalmologist (Eye Doctor) who has undergone further training for one or two years to manage all kinds of diseases pertaining to Vitreo-Retina.

When should you consult a Vitreo-Retina specialist?

If you have a disease relating to vitreous or retina & you are already aware about it, then you may directly seek an appointment with Retina specialist for the management of your condition. However if your general ophthalmologist has referred you to a Retina specialist after examining you then you should meet some renowned vitreo-retina specialist without delay, as timely treatment can sometimes make all the difference.

Services offered in our Vitreo-Retina Department

Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosis and management( Diabetic Eye Clinic) – Screening for diabetic retinopathy is important for all individuals having diabetes of five years or more duration. It can destroy the vision silently over a period of time. Patients if diagnosed would need FFA and/or OCT to define the stage of the disease. Advanced cases might need retinal laser treatment or vitreo-retina surgery to restore the vision.

Management of Hypertensive retinopathy– Hypertensive retinopathy can affect the eye quietly or can present as sudden painless loss of vision. Patients with hypertension need to be examined from time to time and if evidence of retinopathy is found, they would need FFA, OCT, retinal laser or vitreo-retina surgery depending on the kind of damage

Comprehensive management of Age Related Macular Degeneration– Crucial area of the retina (Macula) can get affected in old age. Vision loss is generally slow and progressive. In few unfortunate patients there can be sudden acceleration of the disease process as well. FFA and OCT are required to diagnose the extent of the disease. Treatment options include intravitreal injections of anti- VEGF agents like Bevacizumab (Avastin-TM) Ranjibizumab (Accentrix, Razumab), Aflibercept (Eylea) and lasers depending on the type of disease

Retinal Detachment Surgery– Retinal detachment results in sudden painless loss of partial or total vision. It may be preceded by symptoms like flashes & floaters. This is a surgical problem & requires scleral buckling or vitrectomy with gas or silicon oil injection. Delay in surgery can lead to poor visual results and may even lead to inoperability 

Cataract complications management– Vision threatening complications of the cataract surgery like dropped nucleus, dropped IOL or endophthalmitis require vitreo- retina surgery to restore the vision.

Ocular trauma management- Injuries of the eye may be sustained as a result of occupational hazard, in road side accident or during sports. These result in laceration or tears of the walls of the eyeball with or without retained intraocular foreign bodies like nails, glass pieces etc require extensive vitreo-retina surgeries to restore the anatomy & if possible vision also.

Pediatric retina– Do you see a white pearl like reflex in your child’s eye? If yes, then contact us immediately. Most of the retinal disorders present in children like this. The condition can be as simple as cataract to serious disorders like tumors. Treatment depends on the problem child is facing.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening & Management– Prematurely born children with low birth weight need retinal evaluation very early in the life (with in one month) to rule out ROP a vision threatening condition. These children are examined repeatedly depending on the stage of disease & if the disease is progressing instead of self regression then the Retina specialist treats these children with Laser treatment. However remember if the screening or treatment in this disease is delayed the child can lose vision forever. Our Retina specialist has a vast experience in the management of ROP & has a special training for this. We regularly screen these children in various leading children’s hospitals of our area & have saved many children from a complete life of blindness.
Investigations
We have the state of the art machines & highly trained Retina specialist to conduct following diagnostic tests in our Retina OPD

  • B scan– Is the ultrasound of the eye. The procedure is simple where a vibrating probe is kept over the eye. The whole procedure spans 5 minutes.
  • FFA– It is a 20 minute procedure. A dye is injected into a vein in the arm and eyes are photographed with the help of a special camera.
  • OCT– It is a 5 minute procedure. A light beam is directed into the eye to scan the retina. The test determines the vitreo-retinal interface relations & thickness of the retina and helps in highlighting the problems in various layers of the retina.
  • Indirect Ophthalmoscopy– It is a simple test of 5 minutes duration. Retina is examined in detail through a beam of light going into the eye. It is a basic test and requires dilated pupil.