RETINAL CONDITIONS

Retinal Vein Occlusion:

What causes retinal vein occlusions?

The most common underlying cause is hypertension.

What are the symptoms of retinal vein occlusion?

Sudden vision loss (varying degrees of vision loss.

What is the treatment?

Retinal vein occlusions are treated with regular eye injections to control macular swelling. Pan-retinal laser is sometimes used to control new vessel development.

Diabetic Eye Disease:

Why is regular retinal screening important?

Vision loss can be prevented if early disease is detected

How does diabetes affect the eye: Diabetes causes damage to the small capillaries in the retina. This leads to a lack of oxygen (ischaemia) and development of retinal new vessels.

How is diabetic eye disease treated?

Treatment depends on the severity of the disease and can involve retinal laser and eye injections.

Retinal Detachment:

What Is It?

When the internal neural lining of the eye detached from its normal position.

Symptoms:

• Blurred vision.
• Shadow in peripheral field of view (peripheral Scotoma).
• Loss of central vision with macular involvement.

Causes:

Retinal tears and traction from vitreous separation which occurred with ageing or direct eye trauma.

What Is The Treatment?

Surgery is required either vitrectomy or cryopexy and sclera buckling.

Surgical Macular Conditions:

What Is It?

Epiretinal membrane full thickness macular hole and vitreomacular traction.

Symptoms:

Blurred distorted vision.

What Is The Treatment?

If symptoms are bad enough vitrectomy membrane peeling and gas tamponade.

Vitreous Haemorrhage:

What Is It?

Bleeding in the cavity of the eye.

Symptoms:

Sudden Loss of vision if dramatic but may be less sever with floaters or mild blur.

Causes:

• Ruptured blood vessels from proliferative diabetic retinopathy or vein occlusion.
• Retinal tears.
• Ruptured Macro aneurysm.
• Wet age related macular degeneration.
• Trauma.

What Is The Treatment?

Non clearing vitreous haemorrhage is treated by vitrectomy. If the underlying cause is not known this may be undertaken in an urgently.