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What Retina Specialists Treat and How They Can Help You
Who Is at Risk for Retinal Disease
Retinal conditions can affect people of all ages, but certain factors increase the likelihood of developing a problem. Knowing your risk factors helps you and your retina specialist stay ahead of potential changes.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common reasons patients visit a retina specialist. AMD damages the macula and primarily affects people over the age of 50, with risk increasing with each passing decade. It can progress quietly without symptoms in its early stages, which is why regular monitoring is so important.
Diabetes is a leading cause of retinal disease. High blood sugar gradually damages the small blood vessels in the retina, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes carry this risk, especially when blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol are not well controlled. Fluid can also collect in the macula, a related condition called diabetic macular edema (DME), which can blur central vision.
Several additional factors can raise your risk of developing a retinal condition.
- High myopia (severe nearsightedness) increases the risk of retinal tears and detachment.
- Previous cataract surgery can change the internal structure of the eye and raise retinal detachment risk.
- Eye trauma from an injury or accident can directly damage the retina.
- A family history of retinal diseases, including inherited retinal conditions.
- High blood pressure, which can damage the small blood vessels inside the eye.
- Smoking, which raises the risk of AMD progression and other vascular retinal diseases.
If any of these factors apply to you, discussing a baseline retinal evaluation with your eye care provider is a reasonable step.
Warning Signs That Need Prompt Attention
Some retinal conditions develop gradually, while others cause sudden symptoms that require emergency care. Knowing which symptoms are urgent can protect your vision.
Certain symptoms should never be ignored or waited on. If you experience any of the following, contact us immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
- A sudden increase in floaters (spots or cobweb-like shapes drifting across your vision).
- Flashes of light, especially in your side or peripheral vision.
- A curtain or shadow moving across your field of vision.
- Sudden vision loss in one eye.
These symptoms can indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which is a medical emergency. Without prompt treatment, a detached retina can lead to severe and permanent vision loss.
Not all retinal problems announce themselves suddenly. Many conditions cause slow, subtle changes, such as blurred or distorted central vision, difficulty reading fine print, or dark spots in the center of your vision. For people with diabetes, vision can fluctuate as blood sugar levels change. Any new or worsening visual symptom deserves evaluation by a retina specialist, even if it seems minor.
If you are already receiving retinal treatment, certain new symptoms should be reported right away. Sudden vision loss, increasing eye pain, or worsening redness after an intravitreal injection (an injection given directly into the eye) could indicate endophthalmitis, a rare but serious eye infection. Contact our office immediately if these symptoms occur after any retinal procedure.
Conditions We Treat
Our team treats the full range of retinal, vitreous, and macular conditions. Whether your condition requires close monitoring, medical therapy, or surgery, we have the expertise to guide your care from diagnosis through long-term management.
AMD comes in two forms. Dry AMD is the more common type and involves a gradual thinning of the macula. In its most advanced stage, called geographic atrophy, retinal tissue is progressively lost. Wet AMD is less common but more aggressive, occurring when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid or blood, rapidly damaging central vision. These two forms require different treatment approaches, and accurate diagnosis is essential.
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels in the retina may leak fluid, causing swelling. In more advanced stages, abnormal new blood vessels can grow on the surface of the retina, raising the risk of serious vision loss. DME can occur at any stage and specifically involves fluid buildup in the macula. We manage both conditions using injections, laser treatment, or surgery depending on severity.
A retinal tear occurs when the vitreous gel pulls on the retina and creates a break in the tissue. Left untreated, fluid can seep through the tear and lift the retina away from the back of the eye, causing a retinal detachment. Once the retina is detached, it loses its blood supply, and vision loss can be severe and lasting. Treating a tear before it becomes a detachment is one of the most important ways we work to protect your vision.
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) occurs when a vein that carries blood away from the retina becomes blocked. This blockage causes blood and fluid to leak into the retinal tissue, leading to swelling and vision loss. RVO is closely associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and glaucoma. We treat RVO with anti-VEGF injections and other approaches based on the type and location of the blockage.
We also treat macular pucker (also called epiretinal membrane), which is a thin layer of scar tissue that forms on the macula's surface and can distort vision. A macular hole is a small break in the center of the macula that causes a blank or dark spot in central vision. Both conditions can often be treated surgically with very good outcomes when addressed at the right stage.
As we age, the vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks and pulls away from the retina, a common event called a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This often causes a sudden increase in floaters or flashes of light. While PVD is usually harmless, it can sometimes cause a retinal tear, which is why a dilated retinal exam is recommended when these symptoms first appear.
How We Diagnose Retinal Conditions
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective retinal care. We use a range of advanced imaging tools to examine the retina in detail and monitor changes over time.
A retina appointment often takes longer than a typical office visit. Your eyes will be dilated with special drops so our team can see the retina clearly. You may have several types of imaging completed before meeting with your retina specialist. Plan for the visit to take two to three hours, and arrange for a driver, as dilation will temporarily blur your vision and make your eyes light-sensitive.
Each imaging test provides a different and valuable view of your retinal health.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) creates detailed cross-sectional images of the retinal layers, allowing us to measure fluid and tissue changes with precision.
- OCT angiography shows blood flow through the retinal vessels without requiring an injection of dye.
- Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography use injected dye and specialized photography to reveal abnormal blood vessel activity and leakage.
- Fundus photography and autofluorescence capture high-resolution images of the retina's surface and help track changes over time.
- Wide-field imaging allows us to see a broader view of the retina in a single photograph.
- B-scan ultrasound is used when the retina cannot be seen directly, such as when there is blood in the vitreous.
One of our core habits at Atlantic Retina Center is comparing your retinal photographs from visit to visit over time, giving us a clear, documented picture of how your retina is responding to treatment or how a condition is progressing.
Imaging results directly shape the decisions we make together about your care. OCT measurements can show how much fluid is present beneath or within the retina, which helps us evaluate how well a treatment is working. Angiography can pinpoint the location of abnormal blood vessels. This information allows your retina specialist to choose the most effective approach and adjust it as your condition evolves.
Treatment Options
We offer the full range of treatments used in modern vitreoretinal care, from in-office injections and laser procedures to complex surgical repair. The right approach depends on your specific condition, its severity, and how your retina responds over time.
Many retinal conditions, including wet AMD, DME, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion, involve abnormal blood vessel growth or leakage driven by a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Anti-VEGF medications block this protein and are delivered through intravitreal injections, meaning the medication is injected directly into the vitreous cavity of the eye. Medications in this class include Eylea, Lucentis, Vabysmo, and Avastin. The injection itself takes only a few seconds, and the eye is numbed beforehand. Most patients describe feeling pressure rather than pain.
Geographic atrophy (GA) is the advanced form of dry AMD, and it is a distinct condition that requires a different treatment approach than wet AMD. GA involves the progressive loss of retinal cells in the macula. Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) is an FDA-approved complement inhibitor that targets the immune pathway involved in this tissue loss. It is given as an intravitreal injection and is designed to slow the rate of progression. These treatments do not restore vision that has already been lost, but slowing GA can help protect remaining vision.
Retinal laser photocoagulation uses a focused beam of light to seal leaking blood vessels or prevent abnormal vessel growth. It is commonly used in diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and to treat retinal tears before they progress to a detachment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) combines a light-activated medication with a special laser to close abnormal blood vessels, particularly in certain cases of wet AMD. We also use endolaser, a technique applied during vitreoretinal surgery, and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), a wide-area laser used in advanced diabetic retinopathy.
When injections or laser treatments are not sufficient, our retina specialists perform surgery. Pars plana vitrectomy removes the vitreous gel inside the eye to allow direct access to the retina for repairing tears, removing scar tissue, or clearing blood. Scleral buckling places a silicone band around the outside of the eye to support a detached retina. Pneumatic retinopexy uses an injected gas bubble to gently reposition a detached retina. Cryopexy uses a freezing probe to seal retinal tears. We also perform macular hole surgery and epiretinal membrane surgery when these conditions require intervention.
Living With a Retinal Condition
Most retinal conditions are managed over the long term rather than resolved with a single treatment. The steps you take between appointments can meaningfully support your care and help protect your vision.
For many retinal conditions, controlling your general health directly affects your eyes. Keeping blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol within healthy ranges slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy and reduces stress on the retinal blood vessels. Quitting smoking lowers the risk of AMD progression and reduces overall vascular damage to the eye.
Your retina specialist may recommend using an Amsler grid, a simple chart with a grid pattern that helps you detect early changes in your central vision. Checking each eye separately on a regular basis can reveal whether lines appear wavy, blurry, or missing. Reporting any new changes to our office promptly allows us to evaluate them quickly and adjust your treatment if needed.
For patients with intermediate or advanced AMD in one eye, a specific combination of vitamins and minerals shown in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS2) can help reduce the risk of progression to more advanced stages. Our practice carries Focus Vision Supplements, including Focus Select (formulated to AREDS2 standards) and Focus MaculaPro (formulated to original AREDS standards). Your retina specialist will advise whether a supplement is appropriate for your specific stage of disease. Supplements will not reverse existing AMD, but they may help slow its course in the right patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions patients often ask about retinal care, appointments, and managing their conditions.
Yes, if a retinal condition has been identified or suspected. General ophthalmologists and optometrists are excellent at detecting signs of retinal disease during routine exams, but treating those conditions requires specialized training, equipment, and procedures that are only available through a retina specialist. Our practice focuses exclusively on the retina, vitreous, and macula, which means every tool, every staff member, and every appointment is centered on your retinal health. The two providers work well together, and many patients see both.
Treatment frequency varies widely depending on your condition, its severity, and how your retina responds. Anti-VEGF injections may be scheduled as often as every four weeks initially, then extended to every eight, twelve, or sixteen weeks as your retina stabilizes. Some patients reach a point where visits can be spaced out significantly. Others require ongoing regular treatment indefinitely. Your retina specialist will review your imaging at each visit and adjust the schedule based on what your retina shows, not a fixed calendar.
Most retina visits include pupil dilation, which temporarily blurs your close vision and makes your eyes very sensitive to bright light. This effect can last several hours. While some patients feel comfortable driving after dilation, many do not, and it is safer to arrange for someone else to drive you, especially for your first visit. Sunglasses help with light sensitivity during the time your eyes remain dilated.
With conditions like wet AMD, DME, or retinal vein occlusion, gaps in treatment can allow fluid to return to the retina and vision to worsen, sometimes quickly. It is not always possible to recover vision that is lost during a treatment gap. If you need to reschedule, contact our office as soon as possible so we can minimize any lapse. Consistent follow-through with your treatment schedule is one of the most important things you can do to protect your vision.
It depends on the condition. Most age-related retinal diseases like AMD and diabetic retinopathy are not directly inherited, though family history does raise the overall risk. Certain inherited retinal dystrophies, such as retinitis pigmentosa, do run in families and may warrant screening. If you have been diagnosed with a hereditary retinal condition, discussing screening for close family members with a retina specialist is a reasonable step. Your specialist can advise based on your specific diagnosis.
We track your retina's response using OCT imaging at each visit, which measures the amount of fluid under or within the retina. A reduction in fluid generally indicates a positive response. In some cases, vision improves as fluid resolves. In others, the goal is stability, meaning preventing further deterioration rather than restoring lost sight. Your retina specialist will review your images with you and explain what the findings mean for your care going forward.
Schedule Your Retinal Evaluation
If you have been referred for a retinal evaluation or are experiencing symptoms that concern you, we encourage you to reach out to Atlantic Retina Center. Our team of fellowship-trained, board-certified retina specialists is here to provide expert, compassionate care across the Delmarva peninsula. We are focused exclusively on the retina, vitreous, and macula, and we are committed to helping you protect and preserve your vision for the long term.