What is the Retina?
The retina is the delicate cup-shaped lining at the
back of the eye. About the size of a postage stamp and the thickness
of a dime, the retina is essential to vision. It is compared to the
film in a camera - receiving an image to be developed in the brain.
Retinal problems are found to be more common among diabetics and older
adults. When examining your retina, a doctor is usually looking for
evidence of macular degeneration, retinal tears, breaks or detachments,
or leaking blood vessels which signal diabetic retinopathy.
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Our
Surgeons
As board-certified ophthalmologists and fellowship
trained retina subspecialists, Dr. Jeffrey
Rapkin and Dr. Rita Singh offer
patients the latest advances in the treatment of retinal diseases
including diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments and macular
degeneration. They use laser and microsurgery to repair macular
holes and to treat irregularities in the retina.
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Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration is the most common
cause of blindness in the United States for individuals over 65 years
of age. The central area of the retina is called the macula. With
age, tissues break down and fluids begin to seep between the layers
of the retina, causing them to seperate. As they do, the result is
macular degeneration. The detatchment begins with symptoms like black
spots, flashes of light, a shadowy area in the side vision, wavy or
watery vision. There is no known cure for macular degeneration, however,
lasers are used to destroy abnormal blood vessels and repair
weak areas of the macula by destroying worn tissue and allowing new
tissue to grow.
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Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused
by the deterioration of blood vessels nourishing the retina at the
back of the eye. This condition can cause blindness in people
under age 65 and the longer a person has diabetes, the greater the
chance of developing this complication. There is no pain associated
with diabetic retinopathy. Gradual blurring of vision may occur, but
changes in the eye can go undetected without a medical eye exam. In
many cases, treatment may not be required; in others, laser treatments
may be recommended to halt further progress of the disease. Early
diagnosis and treatment are vital to preventing visual loss from diabetic
retinopathy.
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Flashers and Floaters
Retinal tears sometimes include sudden, unexplained
flashes of light and moving black spots in the vision called "floaters."
Usually, retinal tears are at the edges of the eye and affect only
your peripheral vision. If you experience floaters or flashes, please
call to arrange an eye exam. New retinal tears may be easily treated
before they lead to a more severe retinal detachment.
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Retinal Detachment
Retinal Detachment is a separation of the retina from
the outer layers of the eye. The detachment may be small, localized
and insignificant or involve the entire retina resulting in blindness
if not quickly and properly treated. Nearsighted individuals are more
commonly affected due to the thinning of the retina often seen in
myopic eyes. Holes or tears can develop in the thinned retina through
which fluid passes to separate the retina from the adjacent layers
of the eye. The detachment often begins with symptoms like black spots,
flashes of light, a shadowy area in the side vision, wavy or watery
vision. There may also be a sudden total loss of vision in the affected
eye. Once the retina has actually detached it must be surgically reattached.
However, sometimes the retina does not fully detach, but only tears.
In these cases, treatment is done with a laser or freezing technique
that seals the tear.
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