Retina and Vitreous disorders are the leading cause of blindness throughout the human lifecycle, and are common features of several systemic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, MS, and Sickle Cell anemia. Ophthalmologists in this service area also diagnose and treat hereditary retinal conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular dystrophies, and acquired retinal diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration, vascular occlusive disease, retinal tears, retinal detachments, and macular holes. The Retina Service also diagnoses and treats infections and inflammation of the Retina and Vitreous, as well as diagnosis and management of eye cancer, such as Melanoma and retinoblastoma. In pediatric retina, our service plays a role in the management of retinopathy of prematurity, and congenital retinal disease, such as Coat’s Disease.
Diagnosis of diseases of the Retina and Vitreous are aided by multimodal imaging, including optical coherence tomography(OCT), OCT-Angiography(OCT-A), Fundus autofluorescence(FAF), intravenous fluorescein(IVFA) and indocyanine green(ICG) angiography, electrophysiology (ERG, mfERG), and ultrasound. Treatments for retinal disease include anti-VEGF therapy, Laser photocoagulation, Photodynamic Therapy, Pneumatic Retinopexy, Vitrectomy, Scleral Buckle, radiation plaque therapy, among other surgical procedures. Vitreous substitutes such as air, perflourocarbon or silicone oil may be used during a vitrectomy. Retinal prostheses such as the Argus II are also being successfully implanted in select patients. Basic and clinical research are integral components of the Retina Service, with translational research (from bench to bedside) and cutting edge clinical trials as focused priorities.
