Retina Services

What is the Retina of the eye?

The retina is the most sensitive multi-layered tissue in the back of the eye. The retina captures light rays and converts them into images. When we see an object, the light passes through the lens and falls on the retina of the eye. The retina converts them into neural signals or impulses, and the optic nerves send these visual stimuli to the brain where those signals translate them back as images. However, any hindrance occurs here, then no signals reach your center of imagination (brain), and your vision to the beautiful world will be cut-off.

To avoid such potential vision loss, you should consult a good ophthalmologist immediately whenever you suspect a retinal problem.

More things about Retina

The pigmented portion of the central part of the retinal layer is called macula. This pigmented portion attributes clear and sharpness to the vision while reading the newspaper or driving a car. The retinal disorder may only affect the macula or the entire retina. So, proper medication or early consultation with a doctor is very essential. Some of the common complications that affect retina are:

Macular Degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) is a condition where macula gradually deteriorates. This disease mostly affects elderly people over the age of 65, and it’s the leading cause of blindness. Some of its common symptoms are blurred distorted vision, and shadowy areas in the center part of the eye.

Diabetic Retinopathy

It is a condition that affects diabetes patients. Uncontrolled diabetic blood sugar levels can be the first cause of damage to blood vessels, including in the eyes. The affected blood vessel may start bleeding or create blood deposits that can damage the sensitive retina tissue and cause swelling of the retina. If it remains untreated, the body starts compensating for the lack of oxygen and nutrients and grows new blood vessels on the surface of the retina. This condition can lead to severe retina damage or complete vision loss.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is a condition where the retina of the eye is torn from the underlying supportive tissue and is pulled away from the back of the eye. However, certain eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy and near-sightedness can also cause retinal detachment. Regardless of any situation, it is a very serious condition that results in complete vision loss, if not treated promptly.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa is a very rare eye condition where the retina of the eye slowly deteriorates, leading to complete loss of vision. However, it is a hereditary disease than comes from your ancestors. Unfortunately, for this hereditary disease, no treatment is currently available. India’s best ophthalmologist has brought a few of its substitutes to the medication and surgery. So, it is essential to diagnose the disease promptly to ensure physical and psychological adjustment and proper monitoring.

 

Retinal Vein Occlusion

In Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO), blockage forms that prevent normal blood flow out of the eye. Compression from a nearby retinal artery, blood clot, or diseases that affect blood vessels such as diabetes, glaucoma, high BP, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) can cause this blockage.

There are two types of RVO: Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO) and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO). While in BRVO, blockage happens in one of the smaller branch vessels that connect to the central retinal vein, in CRVO, the blockage happens in the central retinal vein itself.

The inner issues related to retina

Some of the common symptoms that say more about retinal problems are floaters, eye flashes, and sudden onset of blurry vision. For instance, if a child is prematurely born, then it is essential to do a retinal evaluation to rule out retinopathy or prematurity. A retina specialist would do a proper investigation of the issue and would involve scanning of the eyes, measuring the eye pressure, and even checking electrical conduction from the retina of the eye.

Retinal Treatment

Treatment of the most sensitive layer of the eye is quite challenging and requires ample skill and competency. Only after a thorough investigation of the problem, an ophthalmologist can advise to go either for oil-based medical injections or laser or freezing (cryopexy) or vitrectomy.



FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers about Retina​

As with all medical appointments, first, you will be required to fill out a basic medical form. Along with the paperwork, you need to provide details about yourself like your name, contact no., the physician who has referred you to this hospital, and your photo ID. A technician will conduct a standard work like recording medical history, any visual complaints, intraocular pressure, confrontational visual field, checking visual acuity, ocular motility, and pupillary reaction. Before doing any tests or exams, you will be given to dilate your pupils.


Once the retinal scan is done, you will be directed to consult a physician who will examine your eyes and may ask you for some additional testing.

No. there is no need to remove eyes to perform retinal surgery. However, we use a small microsurgical instrument that is placed through the white part of the eye. These instruments can cut, peel, and remove blood and scar tissue and perform other functions as well. The surgeon looks through the dilated pupil using a special microscope. And, those who will go through retinal detachment surgery, this is done on the outside of the eye.

You will be called one day before surgery and notified about the arrival time. Typically, a patient is called in the morning on the surgery day to avoid the rush and pollution.

After visiting the hospital, a technician may dilate your eyes for an average of 4 to 6 hours. During this time, you may find difficulty in reading or seeing things and adjusting to bright lights. If you receive an injection in your eye, you can expect irritation and redness in the eye until the following day. The eye could appear like this for up to two weeks, but it doesn’t cause any damage.

A retinal exam needs a thorough examination of the eye; thus, it is comprehensive as well as a lengthy process. As a result, the processing time cannot be exactly specified. So, a patient, who is visiting for a retinal exam to his/her regular doctor’s office, must have ample time in hand.

Yes, as the retinal exam needs a thorough inspection of your eyes, both of your eyes will be dilated. A physician finds it easy to see the retina at the back of your dilated eye. After the drops are administered, it takes approx. half an hour for dilation to occur.

Retina surgery takes minimum minutes to max 3 hours. It depends on what type of surgical procedure you are undergoing.
If I get an injection for my macular degeneration, will that cure my retinal damage?
The injections for macular degeneration are only given to slow down the disease, not cure it.

We always recommend bringing somebody with you to accompany you, at least for your initial appointment. Both of your eyes will be dilated which lasts approx. 3 to 4 hours, and it causes blurry vision and makes you unable to adjust to the sunlight. Moreover, if you undergo an in-office procedure, a driver is required to take you home.