fbpx
Your Guide To Doctors, Health Information, and Better Health!
Your Health Magazine Logo
The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Randall Wong, MD
When Do You Need a Retina Specialist?
Dulles Eye Associates
. http://www.DCEyeDr.com

When Do You Need a Retina Specialist?

A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) who has sub-specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. The retina is the light sensitive tissue, which lines the inside of the eye. The vitreous is the liquid gel that fills most of the eye.
Below is a short list of three common reasons when you might need to see a retina specialist.
New Floaters
Floaters are usually dark opacities in your vision which move to and fro with eye movement. They may be of various sizes, shapes or shades of darkness. They are usually not colored. Quite often, patients will describe the presence of “tiny dark flies” in their vision. They may also be associated with flashes, brief lightning-like occurrences noticed especially in the dark. While floaters are very common, they are not always benign.
New onset floaters (especially when accompanied with flashes) could be a sign of a retinal tear. Tears in the retina can lead to a retinal detachment. Retinal detachments require surgery to repair and can lead to loss of vision or blindness.
What can you do?
If you experience new floaters and/or flashes, call your eye doctor. While you do not necessarily need to see a retina specialist, you should get your eyes dilated to check for tears in your retina.
Patients with Diabetes
Patients with diabetes should get a complete eye examination at least every year, regardless of symptoms. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of new blindness in patients with normal vision.
Diabetic retinopathy may occur in most patients regardless of sugar control. Severe vision loss can be prevented. The chance of severe vision loss occurring is less than 1% in patients who get examined regularly after initial diagnosis.
Diabetic retinopathy may not cause any symptoms of blurry vision. Only a complete dilated examination of your eye can determine if diabetic retinopathy is present. Timely diagnosis and treatment is the key to maintaining excellent vision in patients with diabetes.
What can you do?
If you have diabetes or have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, speak with your primary care physician about getting an eye examination.
Macular Degeneration
The chance of developing age related macular degeneration (ARMD) increases as we age.
Macular degeneration is a progressive disease of the central retina called the macula. The macula is the only are of the retina which provides 20/20 vision, central vision and color perception.
Dry macular degeneration is the most common. Symptoms of dry macular degeneration include blurry vision, distortion and blind spots in or around the central vision. The peripheral vision is intact. Dry macular degeneration progresses slowly over time. There is no treatment for dry ARMD.
In contrast, wet macular degeneration can cause severe and rapid loss of vision. While there is no cure for the disease, treatments for wet ARMD are highly effective if given early in the disease.
What can you do?
There are no unique symptoms of macular degeneration. In general, any persistent change in vision, including distortion, should prompt a call to your eye doctor.

www.yourhealthmagazine.net
MD (301) 805-6805 | VA (703) 288-3130