Why You Should See a Retina Specialist for Retinal Health Concerns

Retinal diseases impact the retina of the eye and range from macular degeneration to diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, these conditions can permanently compromise your vision health, causing untold problems with normal everyday activities. That’s why it’s so important to know when to see a retina specialist vs just visiting your general eye care provider. Luckily, retina specialists have spent many years undergoing extensive education, training, and continuing hands-on education to diagnose and treat patients suffering from diseases of the retina. Their goal is to repair your retina and prevent problems from becoming even more serious. If you think you may have a retinal disease, read through the following article to understand when to see a retina specialist. Then, reach out to schedule a call with an OCLI retina specialist today.

What Is the Retina?

To start, it is helpful to know what the retina is and its function in the eye. The retina is a thin layer of photosensitive tissue at the back of your eye that helps process light and send visual information to your brain. It is vital to your ability to see because it sends electrical signals through the optic nerve to the brain where the brain interprets them as images. There are different parts of the retina which are responsible for different components of your vision. The macula is what enables you to see detail and color, and within the macula are photoreceptor cells called rods and cones. The rods enable night and peripheral vision and the cones are responsible for color vision. If any of these components are damaged or diseased, it will impact your ability to see. For example, those suffering from color blindness either have missing cones or the cones within the macula do not work correctly, shifting how they view color. 

What Conditions Affect the Retina?

Diseases of the retina include many different conditions from color blindness to macular holes and retinal detachment. Any disease or injury impacting the retina should be treated by a professional as soon as possible as it can permanently impact your ability to see. Here are the most common conditions impacting the retina and the symptoms you may experience.

• Macular degeneration: This condition happens when the macula begins to degenerate, impacting a person’s central vision. Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) typically impacts those 60 years and older, causing dark spots on the vision, difficulty seeing details, blurred vision, and changes in how colors and straight lines appear. Unfortunately, there is no cure for AMD, but with a clear diagnosis and treatment your retina specialist can keep further vision loss at bay. If you have a family history of AMD, be sure to visit the eye doctor regularly!
• Diabetic Retinopathy: For those with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is the permanent damage to the blood vessels in the eye from complications with diabetes. When your blood sugar remains high and untreated, it can damage the blood vessels in the retina. It can cause blurred vision, floaters, pain and pressure in the eyes, and rings or flashing. Depending on your case, your surgeon may suggest diabetic management to get your condition under control or surgery to repair the retina.
• Retinal tears or detachment: Exactly, what it sounds like, retinal detachments happens when the retina detaches from the back of the eye. A retinal detachment is a very serious condition and requires emergency care to prevent permanent vision loss. Unfortunately, a detachment is usually a painless occurrence, so it can be difficult to tell if it has happened. The only way to know that your retina is detached is through sudden changes in vision. If you notice changes in your vision such as tiny specks or floaters, flashes of light, blurred vision, a decrease in peripheral vision, or a shadow over your vision, contact an ophthalmologist right away.
• Color blindness: While not a threat to your overall vision, color blindness changes the way you see color and can prevent you from pursuing certain careers. It usually occurs at birth, but there are some chronic diseases that can impact your ability to see color, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and more.
• Additional conditions of the retina include, macular holes, retinitis pigmentosa, and others.

What Is a Retina Specialist and How Do They Diagnose and Treat Retinal Diseases?

A retina specialist has undergone extensive education and training to become a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases. They have completed medical school, a residency in a hospital, and a fellowship specializing in diseases of the retina and corresponding treatments. As a surgeon, they are able to perform delicate surgeries on the retina and other tissues of the eye. For those with retina eye conditions, a retina specialist will have more experience and training dealing with retinal diseases than an ophthalmologist, so it’s important to get the right care from the right specialist to achieve the best outcomes.

When it comes to diagnosing retinal diseases, your retina eye specialist will start by performing a comprehensive exam, during which they may ask you about any risk factors you have, including age, diabetes, genetic factors, high blood pressure, and other conditions or characteristics that may impact your chances of a retinal disease or injury. If the specialist suspects a retinal disease, or wants to rule it out completely, they will use advanced imaging and eye scans to diagnose your condition. Some of the scans and methodologies used include:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT): This type of imaging uses infrared wavelengths and is noninvasive. By measuring the lengths of the waves that reflect off of your eye, specialists can create a clear picture of the layers and depths of structures within the eye. You will not need to make special preparations before getting an OCT scan and it may be completed in your specialist’s office.
• Fluorescein angiography: Slightly more invasive, this requires injecting a dye into your arm and capturing the images as the dye travels through your eyes. Your retina specialist will use this test to get a closer look at the blood vessels in your retina.
• Retinal imaging: With this test, a specialist will use a laser or a camera to take a picture of your retina and the inner back surfaces of your eye. This can be done as part of a comprehensive exam but has limitations so further imaging may be required if something unusual shows up in the results.

What Treatments May Be Required for Retinal Diseases?

Once you have been diagnosed with a retinal disease, your retina specialist may recommend different treatment options, depending on your specific conditions and any other health issues you may be facing. Generally, retina specialists employ laser therapy, injections, and surgery to fix retinal diseases.

When to Seek Specialized Care from a Retina Specialist

If you already know you have a retina disease, it is important to receive care from a retina eye specialist as they are your best defense at maintaining optimal vision. They will diagnose, treat, and help you manage your retinal disease so you can live a relatively normal life. If you experience any sudden onset of the following symptoms, call a retina specialist right now to avoid permanent vision loss:

• Blurry vision
• A cloud or shadow over your vision
• Floaters in your vision
• A difference in how you see color or straight lines
• Pain or pressure in your eye
• Difficulty seeing details
• Changes in your night, peripheral, or central vision

Finding a Retina Specialist Near Me

If you suspect something is wrong with your retina or eye, schedule an eye exam with a retina specialist or an ophthalmologist today. Do not risk losing your vision! The OCLI Vision experts are standing by to help you.

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