Other Retinal Diseases
eye care in abu dhabi
Your retina is light-sensitive and placed in the rear of your eye. Damage can occur because of damage or diseases caused by genetics or other factors. Your medical condition determines the treatment you receive. You may require medications, surgery, or an implant. Read on as we unravel the various retinal diseases and the importance of optimal eye care in Abu Dhabi.
What are retinal diseases?
Retinal diseases involve conditions that affect the retina, the rear layer of the eye. The light enters our eyes through the cornea and the pupil, an opening in the center of your iris. Your lens focuses light on your retina.
Your retina converts light into electrical messages. The optic nerve transfers the signals to the brain converting them into images.
Retinal diseases can impact any portion of the retina, including the macula, which is in the center and allows you to see details. You may inherit some of these conditions.
Many retinal illnesses produce symptoms that impair vision. It is critical to identify and treat retinal disorders. Many of them can result in blindness or impaired vision if not treated. Our retina specialist in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Madhava Rao, is committed to helping patients with various retinal diseases.
Causes of Retinal Disease
Retinal disorders have multiple causes.
Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease, and retinitis pigmentosa are all disorders that can be inherited.
Other types of retinal degeneration (retinopathy) can occur concurrently with other disorders.
Diabetes and high blood pressure damage the blood vessels, resulting in retinal injury. Inflammatory conditions can also be damaging.
Eye injuries can cause damage to the retina and macula. A macular pucker can occur after eye surgery.
Some types of retinal injury, such as CMV retinitis, develop following an infection. However, the retinal disease itself is not infectious.
Types of retinal diseases
There are several retinal diseases, each with their causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Here are some of the most common types:
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is a condition that typically affects older adults and results in damaged sharp and central vision. There are two forms “dry” and “wet” that affect the macula, responsible for clear vision in your direct line of sight.
Diabetic Retinopathy
This disease is a complication of diabetes caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the retina. It causes blindness if not treated promptly. The longer someone has diabetes that is poorly controlled, the higher the chances of developing this condition.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is an emergency wherein the retina pulls away from normal. It can cause symptoms like increased floaters, flashes of light, and worsening of the outer part of the visual field. If not promptly treated, retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss.
Macular Hole
A macular hole is defined by a tiny hole in the macula, leading to blurred or distorted central vision. It is often related to aging and can significantly impact the quality of vision.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
This group of genetic disorders affects the retina’s function to respond to light, causing a slow loss of vision, starting with decreased night vision and loss of peripheral vision.
Central Serous Retinopathy
This condition is characterized by fluid buildup under the retina, which can distort vision. It’s often related to stress or corticosteroid use.
Retinal Tear
A retinal tear is caused when the retina is lifted or pulled from its normal position, often preceding retinal detachment. It can cause symptoms such as sudden flashes of light or floaters. Prompt laser surgery or cryotherapy can often repair the tear and prevent detachment.
Choroideremia
Choroideremia is a rare genetic condition that leads to progressive vision loss, starting with night blindness, followed by peripheral vision loss, and potentially leading to complete blindness. Presently, there is no cure, but gene therapy trials show promise.
Floaters
Floaters are small, dark shapes that float across your vision, often noticed against a bright background. They are typically harmless and result from the vitreous gel inside the eye becoming more liquid. However, a sudden increase in floaters, especially with light flashes, could indicate a retinal tear or detachment, requiring immediate medical attention.
Treatment Options with Dr. Rao for Eye care in abu dhabi - a retina specialist in Abu Dhabi
Dr. Madhava Rao is a trusted retina specialist in Abu Dhabi with extensive expertise in treating various retinal conditions. Some of the most sought-after treatment options offered by Dr. Rao for top-notch eye care in Abu Dhabi include:
- Vitrectomy: A surgical technique that helps remove the vitreous gel from the eye, often used for severe cases of diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and macular holes.
- Scleral Buckle: A surgical procedure for retinal detachment that involves placing a flexible band around the eye to gently push the sclera toward the detached retina.
- Pneumatic Retinopexy: An outpatient retinal detachment procedure involving injecting a gas bubble into the vitreous space to push the retina back into place.
- Laser Therapy: Used for retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions, laser therapy can seal leaking vessels or induce controlled damage to stimulate repair mechanisms.
- Medications/ Intravitreal Injections: These can include anti-VEGF injections to treat diseases like wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy by reducing abnormal blood vessel growth and swelling.
- Corticosteroids: Injected or implanted into the eye to reduce inflammation and swelling in conditions like diabetic macular edema and uveitis.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): A treatment for wet AMD that involves injecting a drug into the bloodstream, which is then activated by light on the eye to destroy abnormal blood vessels.
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