The standard treatment for diabetic macular edema is still laser photocoagulation (laser treatment). The treatment has been utilized for about 30 years, yet newer, and better, treatments are on the horizon. Diabetic macular edema is the biggest, most common, complication of diabetic retinopathy. Most patients with diabetes will develop some degree of this type of … [Read more...]
Are You At Risk For Developing Macular Degeneration?
June 23, 2010 By 2 Comments
A family member is diagnosed with macular degeneration and you wonder if you will develop the same eye disease. In most cases, macular degeneration is not inherited, but the risk factors probably are. "My Father Was Diagnosed, What About Me?" This is a common question and fear. The natural assumption is that this is a disease that "runs in the family." Far from … [Read more...]
Giant Retinal Tears
June 21, 2010 By 8 Comments
A giant retinal tear refers to a specific type of retinal detachment. It is a very uncommon type of retinal detachment and the visual prognosis is often much worse than other retinal detachments. Blindness is commonly caused by a giant retinal tear. Usually, in the more common rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, the tears, or holes, in the retina are localized. … [Read more...]
When To Stop Your Eye Treatment
June 18, 2010 By 1 Comment
The decision to stop your eye treatment for wet macular degeneration should be easy...and guilt free. The anti-VEGF injections (treatment for wet macular degeneration) require multiple injections and many trips to the office. Injections are often recommended for over a year. It can be a real hassle and becomes a hardship for the friends and family... and … [Read more...]
anti-VEGF Cures Wet Macular Degeneration and Cancer
June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Wet macular degeneration treatment uses the same anti-VEGF drugs as many cancer treatments. Anti-VEGF medications stem from cancer research. In both cases, the diseases are controlled by blocking the growth and development of new blood vessels. Several years ago, while receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer, several patients noticed their vision improving. These … [Read more...]
Is Macular Degeneration Cancer?: Goals of Treatment
June 14, 2010 By 2 Comments
The goals of the treatment of wet macular degeneration are much the same as cancer treatment. By making the analogy to tumors, treatment for the "wet" form of the disease may be simpler to understand. Tumors and Neovascularization In the retina, the "wet" form of macular degeneration refers to the growth of a clump of abnormal blood vessels. Some doctors call this a … [Read more...]
Sudden Vision Loss is Painless
June 8, 2010 By 10 Comments
True sudden vision loss can occur from a variety of reasons and are considered emergencies. Most commonly retinal disease is the culprit. Almost all causes of are painless. While both macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness, they both usually do so slowly. There are exceptions. Vision Loss from Diabetes Vision lost from diabetic … [Read more...]
How Many Lucentis Injections?
June 7, 2010 By 9 Comments
How many anti-VEGF injections of Avastin or Lucentis are needed to treat wet macular degeneration? We don't know. While there is no question that anti-VEGF injections are the gold-standard for the treatment of ARMD, the exact way in which they are used varies from doctor to doctor. Standard of Care The standard of care for macular degeneration changed. The standard … [Read more...]
When a Cataract Comes Back
June 1, 2010 By 15 Comments
While not a retinal problem, cataracts can "return" and can mimic the symptoms of the original cataract; blurred vision, glare and distortion. This can usually be remedied by a simple painless laser procedure called a YAG capsulotomy. Cataract Surgery with Implant Like grey hair, everyone gets cataracts. With time, the natural lens of the eye clouds with time. This … [Read more...]
