Understanding the Retina and Retina Conditions
The retina is the back of the eye where light images are changed into nerve signals that can be transmitted to the brain. At the center of the retina is the macula, a tiny area with a dense concentration of light-collecting cells. The macula is largely responsible for color vision and detailed vision that allows complex visual tasks like reading.
The retina is a vital component of vision, but several conditions can damage or impair the function of the retina, including:
- Retinal detachment
- Retinal tear
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
In some cases, treatment options for these conditions did not exist a few short years ago, but continual innovation means that we can provide highly successful treatment for most retina conditions.
Retina Surgery
Although a detached retina is a serious medical condition requiring rapid medical attention, it is treatable, and retina surgery and non-surgical retina treatments have a high success rate. At the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana, we offer many retina treatment options.
If you are looking for retina treatment, we invite you to find out for yourself what makes the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana the place for retina treatment in the New Orleans area and across Louisiana. Please call 504-887-7660 or email the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana today to schedule an appointment.
Symptoms of Retinal Detachment or Tear
A retinal tear is when the retina rips, often caused by a detachment to the clear jelly in the eye, called the vitreous gel. Once a rip occurs, it can expand to become a detached retina, when the retina separates from the tissue that supports it, including blood vessels that keep the retina alive. A retinal tear or detachment is painless, but may result in:
- Bright flashes
- Floaters
- Shadows in visual field
- Partial blindness
- Blurred vision
These visual symptoms typically appear in only one eye when associated with retinal detachment. For more information about this condition, please see Questions about Detached Retina.
Retinal Detachment or Tear — Surgical and Nonsurgical Options
At the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana, we offer a full range of treatment options for your retinal detachment. We will recommend the right treatment option for you based on the degree of your detachment and other eye conditions. Treatment options include:
- Laser retina repair
- Injections of air or silicone oil
- Vitrectomy–separation of the vitreous from the retina to release tension on the retina
- Scleral buckle–indenting the eye so that the detached retina is brought back into contact with supporting tissue
For more information about these treatment options, please see Retinal Detachment Treatment Options.
A Center for Surgery, a Network of Care
Retina treatment often involves a considerable amount of follow-up care and monitoring. Although it is crucial to get highly specialized care for retina surgery, follow-up care can often be performed by your local eye doctor. To ensure that you get the care you need with convenience that fits your demanding schedule, the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana maintains partnership with a network of doctors across Louisiana. We can help you find a local doctor who is part of our network and can provide quality care with convenience.
For more details, please see How to Choose a Retina Surgeon.
To schedule an appointment to discuss retina surgery at one of our New Orleans-area locations, please contact the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana today. We proudly serve patients in the areas of Slidell, Metairie, Gretna and Bogalusa.