The retina is a multi-layered nerve tissue that lines the posterior part of the eye. In some parts of the eye the retina is closely attached to the vitreous. For this reason, diseases of the vitreous can cause diseases of the retina. Read more: [ Ссылка ]
Diseases can affect the retina, which is responsible for recognizing “light and dark” as well as movements, or even the central retina (macula) which has the largest concentration of photoreceptor cells and is responsible for your near and distance visual acuity.
How do you notice these diseases?
Your symptoms could be the following:
You have troubles with reading, blurry vision in the center of your visual field or see wavy lines (macular diseases as e.g. membrane formation, macular hole formation, macular degeneration).
You see a shadow, experience a deterioration of your vision or have similar symptoms (retinal diseases such as retinal detachment).
Visual disturbances such as flashes of light, dots, black rain or “flying mosquitoes” or floaters (indication for the development of a retinal detachment, acute symptoms of a posterior vitreous detachment).
Diseases of the retina are “pain-free”. Therefore, the visual quality is the main indicator for these diseases.
If you have these or similar symptoms, a careful eye examination is required to clarify the exact cause.
The examination of the retina
To carefully examine the posterior part of your eye, a (painless) dilation of the pupil is necessary. Therefore, please leave your car at home. Use public transportation or take a “driver” along. The pupil dilating drops will affect your ability to drive for approx. 4 hours.
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be worthwhile. OCT is an important diagnostic tool for early detection and monitoring of diseases of the center of the retina (macula) and the optic nerve. An OCT examination is non-contact, painless and not associated with any side effects. I can perform the OCT in my medical practice without any waiting time, which may occur in a public hospital.
Depending on the results of the eye examination, a surgery may or may not be necessary.
In a comprehensive conversation, I will advise you about the necessity of a surgery, the details of the procedure, the expected surgical outcome and possible side effects. It is a major concern for me to address all of your questions and to explain in detail how the surgery will be performed.
The intravitreal drug delivery (IVT)
Should the examination of the posterior part of your eye show diseases like “exsudative” age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic or vascular diseases, the treatment with intravitreal injections could be useful.
Usually these injections are performed ambulatory and under local anesthesia with eye drops. The medication is delivered into the vitreous cavity through a tiny injection cannula. I have successfully performed thousands of intravitreal drug deliveries.
After this IVT you will get moisturizing eye drops, an eye bandage for a few hours or – depending on your visual function and your preference – a transparent eye shield.
After an intravitreal drug delivery eye pressure checks are required (after 1 or 2 weeks) as well as an eye examination including visual acuity testing and OCT (after approx. 4 weeks).
Surgery of the retina
Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure suitable for treating retinal diseases. Vitrectomy works in a similar way as endoscopy. As a replacement the eye is filled with fluid.
Vitrectomy is performed under general anesthesia. Please expect to stay 1 to 2 nights in the clinic. Please avoid swimming, sauna and similar activities after the surgery for approx. 2 to 3 weeks, physical stress and sports for approximately 3 to 4 weeks.
For “easy” vitrectomies, I usually use very small openings and get excellent functional and anatomical results. These tiny instruments are very suitable for diseases in the center of the retina (macular diseases), like for example epiretinal membranes or macular holes.
If you have questions about retinal diseases or operations, please contact me: [ Ссылка ]
