Retinal Diseases

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Macular degenerationis a condition of the eye where the macula deteriorates. The macula is the central portion of the retina responsible for central vision, which helps in focusing, and viewing details and colours. This central vision helps us read, recognize faces and drive. Degeneration of the macula makes these daily activities difficult. Macular degeneration is age-dependent, causing loss of vision in people 60 years and older.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal Detachment is an eye disorder in which the retina (light receptive layer of tissue at the back of the eye) is pulled away from its normal position. In retinal detachment, the retina gets separated from the underlying choroid (layer of blood vessels that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the retina) and leaves the retinal cells deprived of oxygen. Certain risk factors, such as ageing, severe near-sightedness, eye injury, cataract surgery, and family history, can increase the chances of retinal detachment. If not treated early, this condition can cause permanent vision loss.

Floaters (Flashers)

Floaters are movable spots that can appear in your field of vision. Eye floaters may look like black or gray particles that move along with eye movement. Flashes are perception of brief arcs or flashes of light that you may experience even in a dark room where no light is actually flashing.

Diabetic Macular Oedema

Laser photocoagulation is the mainstay treatment for diabetic macular oedema. It is the process of sealing leaking blood vessels, by focusing an intense beam of light (laser), to stop the excess accumulation of fluid in the macula. DME is characterized by microaneurysms, small protuberances in the blood vessels of the retina. During green laser therapy, a laser beam is targeted on the microaneurysms. Laser photocoagulation technology using the green wavelength of light is used as it is readily absorbed by haemoglobin (iron-containing pigment in blood cells).

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which your blood glucose or sugar levels are very high. Uncontrolled levels pose a risk to associated heart, kidney, and eye disorders. People with diabetes may develop three major eye problems – glaucoma, cataract, and retinopathy. The early symptom of all these disorders is blurred vision. High blood sugar causes swelling of the lens in the eye, distorting the ability to focus clearly. Retinopathy is the most common eye disease associated with diabetes, and is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.

Eye Screening

Screening of eyes is more than just getting your eyes checked for a lens prescription. It involves several tests to check your eyes for vision and for any eye disease.
The first comprehensive eye screening of the child should be done at 3 years unless some eye problem is noticed before that. Your ophthalmologist will check for normal 20/20 vision, lazy eye and crossed eye.

Distortion of Central Vision

Distortion of central vision is a visual defect in which linear objects, such as lines on a grid appear curvy, rounded, or discontinuous. This can occur in either eye or both as a result of problems related to the eye’s retina, specifically, the macula.

Blind Spots

Vision is produced when light enters the eye and is focused on the retina which has photoreceptors (rods or cones). The retina is comprised of light-sensitive cells which conveys messages to your brain about what you visualize.

Shadows / Dull Areas in the Vision

Shadows or dull areas in your vision are small spots that drift around aimlessly in your field of vision casting slight shadows on your retina. The shadows that you experience are known as eye floaters. They are made up of the vitreous, a clear gel-like material that fills most of the eye. The floaters may appear to you as grey or black specks, strings, or cobwebs that drift about when your eye and the vitreous gel inside the eye moves.