Retinal Diseases

What is Retinal Disease?

The retina is a delicate, light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that plays a key role in converting light into the images we see. When disease affects any part of the retina, it can lead to vision problems, eye discomfort, or, in serious cases, significant complications. Early detection and proper treatment are vital for protecting sight and supporting long-term eye health.

When to Seek a Consultation: Symptoms of Retinal Diseases

Identifying the early signs of retinal conditions is important for receiving timely specialist care. If you notice any of these symptoms, arranging an eye evaluation with a specialist can support early diagnosis.

Protect your sight book an appointment today.

Common signs may include the following:

Blurry or warped vision
Sudden flashes of light or new floaters
Gradual or abrupt vision loss in one or both eyes
Dark patches or blank spots in your field of view
Trouble seeing in low-light or nighttime conditions

Symptoms

The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain which enables us to “see” things. Often, there are no symptoms until the damage to the eyes is severe. Symptoms may include blurred vision and slow vision loss over time, floaters, shadows or missing areas of vision, and/or trouble seeing at night.

Retinal Diseases and How They Are Treated

Diabetic retinopathy

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetes can harm your eyes. The excessive amount of glucose circulating in the blood stream can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, the back part of your eye. This is called Diabetic Retinopathy.

People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition. It affects up to 80% of all patients who have had diabetes for 10 years or more. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher his or her chances of developing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems.

Signs and Tests

Blocked blood vessels or vessels that are larger in certain spots, small amounts of bleeding and fluid leaking from the vessels, and/or abnormal growth of new, fragile vessels are signs that an eye doctor looks for during a diabetic eye exam. Regular diabetic eye exams are vitally important to the continued health of your eyes, as well as your continued ability to see.

Your doctor has recommended a yearly screening for diabetic retinopathy. We have a special camera in our hospital that is capable of taking photographs of your retina. These photographs are examined by an ophthalmologist who is then able to provide recommendations for continued treatment.

Structure of a Normal Eye

Retinal Camera
Following your first examination, the screenings will be done yearly. If there is need for further treatment, your doctor will discuss those options with you.

Treatment
If found to have Diabetic Retinopathy the eyes can be treated either by laser or an injection that stops further damage. The treatment may be repeated after sometime if necessary.

Eye Injection
zs These medicines help reduce swelling or slow down the growth of abnormal blood vessels.

Laser Treatment (Photocoagulation)
A special laser is used to seal or shrink abnormal blood vessels in the retina. This helps prevent further damage and reduces the risk of bleeding

About Laser Treatment
Several retinal conditions are linked to weakened or abnormal blood vessels that can leak fluid or blood into the retina, gradually affecting vision. Laser therapy uses a focused beam of light to seal these vessels, helping to stop further leakage. While it may not recover lost vision, it can effectively prevent the condition from progressing.

Surgery (vitrectomy)
In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove blood or repair damage inside the eye, such as a detached retina.

Sickle Cell Retinopathy

What is Sickle Cell Retinopathy?

Sickle cell retinopathy is an eye problem that can occur in people who have sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood condition where red blood cells become sickle-shaped (curved like a crescent) instead of round. These abnormally shaped cells can block blood flow in different parts of the body, including the eyes.

When blood flow to the eye is affected, it can damage the retina the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that helps you see. This damage is called retinopathy. Over time, sickle cell retinopathy can cause vision problems and, in some cases, lead to vision loss if not treated.

How is Sickle Cell Retinopathy Treated?

Treatment for sickle cell retinopathy depends on how advanced the condition is and whether it is affecting your vision. In the early stages, if there are no symptoms or vision problems, you may not need any treatment right away. However, regular eye check-ups are very important to monitor for any changes. If the condition gets worse, treatment may include:

What are the Symptoms of Sickle Cell Retinopathy?

In the early stages, sickle cell retinopathy may not cause any symptoms. This means you could have changes in your eyes without noticing any problems with your vision.

As the condition progresses, some people may start to notice:

Blurred vision – things may look fuzzy or unclear
Floaters – small spots or shapes that seem to “float” in your vision
Dark or empty areas in your vision
Sudden loss of vision – this can happen if there is bleeding inside the eye or if the retina becomes detached (pulls away from the back of the eye).

Because early changes can happen without symptoms, it’s important for people with sickle cell disease to have regular eye exams, even if their vision seems normal.

Eye Injection
These medicines help reduce swelling or slow down the growth of abnormal blood vessels.

Laser treatment (photocoagulation):
A special laser is used to seal or shrink abnormal blood vessels in the retina. This helps prevent further damage and reduces the risk of bleeding

Surgery (vitrectomy):
In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove blood or repair damage inside the eye, such as a detached retina.

Email

Location

Call us