Modern Retinal Surgery

The retina is the light-sensitive layer inside the eye and it is critical to the sense of sight. It has an array of photoreceptive cells, called rods and cones, which receive light from the outside world and transform it into electrical signals, which are transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain. In this respect, the retina is comparable to the film in a camera. The macula is a small area of the retina where vision is sharpest.

Retinal Diseases

Most people have heard of macular degeneration, but there are many other retinal conditions which can severely affect vision. These include diabetes, retinal vascular disease, retinal detachments, floaters, epiretinal membranes, macular holes, and numerous others. Thanks to advances in diagnostic technology (digital retinal cameras, retinal angiography, retinal scanners, and ocular ultrasound) as well as new drugs, lasers, micro-surgical techniques and technology, many of these conditions can now be diagnosed early and effectively treated.

How is Retinal Disease treated?

Depending on the specific type and severity of the retinal condition, the following treatment options may be available: oral medications, eye drops, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, eye injections or retinal surgery.

Modern retinal surgery is a day-surgery procedure usually completed in under 50 minutes. It is a type of keyhole surgery using microscopic instruments less than one millimetre in diameter – that’s not much thicker than a human hair!  With these new techniques, stitches and overnight stays in hospital are a thing of the past. The eye is numbed using local anaesthetic.This makes treatment possible for older patients who may be unsuitable for general anaesthesia.

The retinal procedure is painless. Highly effective medications are used to induce relaxation, making surgery comfortable for even the most anxious patients. Other benefits include shorter operations, no post-operative pain, and quicker recovery periods.

Retinal services at Vision Eye Institute:

As part of its commitment to offering the highest international standards of care for patients, Vision Eye Institute has invested in the latest state-of-the-art technology. Our patients have access to the most recent diagnostic retinal imaging technology, such as fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, and revolutionary treatments, such as the Lucentis® and Avastin® injections for macular degeneration. Some of the conditions that can now be diagnosed and treated successfully are: