I am happy and honored to introduce Dr. Chris Renner as a contributor to RetinaEyeDoctor.com! He and I practice closely together in Northern Virginia. I asked him to write about Low Vision. - "Randy" What is Low Vision? The great advances in treatment of eye disease have prevented many cases of blindness, however, many patients suffer partial visual loss … [Read more...]
Sometimes You Just Need a Vitrectomy
December 10, 2009 By 16 Comments
A vitrectomy is an eye operation. It is performed by retina specialists for a variety of reasons. In patients with diabetic retinopathy, a vitrectomy may be useful to remove blood in the vitreous, aka a vitreous hemorrhage. There is no reason, to perform a vitrectomy in cases of macular degeneration. In cases of vitreous hemorrhage, bleeding has and blood remains … [Read more...]
Retina Laser Treatment Saves Vision
December 1, 2009 By 3 Comments
There are two conditions where laser treatment is needed in patients with diabetic retinopathy: macular edema and evidence of proliferative retinopathy. In cases where macular edema, swelling of the retina in the macular area, is present, "focal" photocoagulation is needed. In cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, "pan-retinal photocoagulation," or PRP, is … [Read more...]
Looks Like….Smells Like….But it is Not Macular Degeneration
November 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
All "macular degeneration" is not macular degeneration. There are other "macular" diseases, macular dystrophies and diseases that mimic macular degeneration. Most of the "fakes" are confused with macular degeneration due to the presence of choroidal neovascularization, aka the "wet" form of macular degeneration. Remember that in wet macular degeneration, the sine … [Read more...]
Cataracts are Like Grey Hair! Everyone Gets Them.
November 17, 2009 By 2 Comments
Everyone gets a cataract. Just as grey hair, some people get cataracts at an early age and some people get them at a later age. Patients with diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration aren't spared either. What is a cataract? A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye. Very advanced cataracts actually are white, hence the name "cataract" to … [Read more...]
It’s Not About Your Vision, It’s About Quality of Life
November 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Decreased vision impacts your quality of life. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are the two leading causes of loss of vision in adults. Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can impact your quality of life. Your quality of life , besides visual acuity, is also used to measure the outcome, or success, of a treatment. There are many ways to … [Read more...]
Macular Degeneration; How Do We Cope?
November 10, 2009 By 2 Comments
I see patients that have lost vision from macular degeneration; wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Wet Macular Degeneration. The most severe form of macular degeneration is the wet form. Abnormal blood vessels, aka choroidal neovascularization, develop within in the layers of the retina/macula. These vessels destroy normal macular tissue and … [Read more...]
Diabetes and Retinal Detachments
November 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Two types of retinal detachments. One group, called rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, can occur in any one and involves the formation of a tear or hole in the retina. The second group, called traction retinal detachments, involves tissue forming on the surface of the retina and "pulling" the retina to form a detachment. This is the case with diabetic related retinal … [Read more...]
American Diabetes Month: Diabetic Eye Disease, What Every Doctor Should Know (so, tell them!)
October 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
November, 2009, is American Diabetes Month. In my effort to support American Diabetes Month, there are a few things that every doctor should know about diabetic eye disease. The list is short and very direct. Please share this with others; especially your doctors. I have been in practice since 1993. As a retina specialist, I take care of patients with diabetic … [Read more...]
Routine Examination Schedule for Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration
October 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
What is routine? In this case, routine should be the usual and regular times that you see your eye doctor when there are no perceived problems. For instance, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association recommend that all patients with diabetes be examined no less than once a year. How often you actually go for an eye exam is … [Read more...]
