Retina – the oft-forgotten eye tissue

Dr. Saumil Sheth

Most informative articles on eye surgery discuss cataract or LASIK number removal surgery. RETINAL diseases are rarely written about, primarily because, outcomes are unpredictable and suboptimal due to the irreversible nature of disease induced retina damage. Cataracts can be replaced by lenses, damaged corneas can be replaced by eye donations. There is, however, NO replacement for a defunct retina.

Most old age diseases of the eye such as macular degeneration, and diseases related to the aging body such as diabetes and blood pressure involve primarily the retina. These are diseases for life, hence, there is NO ONE-TIME sure shot solution like cataract or LASIK surgery.

RETINA SPECIALIST SURGEONS - THE RARE BREED

Most retinal diseases are unforgiving, and challenges involved in precision surgery are mammoth, leaving hardly any room for errors. Tissue handling during retinal surgery needs a very high degree of specialized training and expertise.

Most complications, such as displacement of the lens, damage to lens capsule and the post-operative eye infections, etc. resulting from the commonly performed cataract surgeries are managed by a Retina Specialist.

DIABETIC & HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY - STEALTHY SIGHT STEALERS

Diabetes and blood pressure result in blurriness of vision from leaks and bleeds in the retina. We often hear incidences of an overnight vision loss to almost blindness because of a sudden bleed or occlusion of an abnormal retinal vessel, similar to a heart attack or stroke. This happens primarily because patients being asymptomatic, have been sitting on the disease for years without a retina check-up, while abnormal blood vessels have kept growing silently within the retina.

PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE

A thorough eye check-up, especially involving Fundoscopy and an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), preferably by a Retina specialist, is mandatory after the age of 50 on a yearly basis.

OCT-Angiography or Dye-less Angiography is the latest technological breakthrough wherein, retinal vessels are checked without the need for vein puncture or dye injection.

AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (ARMD) - INEVITABILITY OF AGING

Irrespective of any ‘remedy' that may be suggested by either mainstream or alternative medicine, ARMD will eventually happen to most of us, though to varying extents. ARMD involves atrophic dysfunction of the retina, similar to end-stage Parkinsonism/Dementia, a loss that cannot be recovered by any medication or surgery to date.

Sometimes, ARMD may be untimely accelerated by development of abnormal retinal vessels, which can certainly be treated to restore fairly good eyesight by administering injections inside the eye.

RETINAL DETACHMENT - SUDDEN SIGHT ASSASSINATION

The aging vitreous jelly within our eyes may sometimes tend to contract, leading to retinal tears/holes, which eventually causes retinal separation. Unless operated upon immediately, it can lead to irreversible blindness.

Till a few years back, most surgeries involved huge risks, long hours and taking stitches in the eye. Key-hole surgeries performed today are relatively safe, take minutes and do not involve taking stitches anymore, with better preservation of eye cosmesis and vision.

Dr. Saumil Sheth

Medical Director, Chief Vitreo-Retina, Lasik, and Cataract Surgeon.

[GOLD MEDALIST] MBBS, MS, DNB, FRCS, FICO [UK]

www.envisioneyehospital.in