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Retina Diseases

Dr del la Bat   →  Services   →  Retina Diseases

Retina Diseases

The retina is a layer of nerve cells at the back of your eye. It can be compared to the film in a camera that gathers information for your brain to analyse and make sense of. Systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis often have retina complications. If left untreated, these diseases can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

The good news is that there are treatments available for some retinal diseases. These can slow or stop the disease and restore or improve your vision depending on your condition. Some retinal disorders can be easily treated and other more rare diseases require complex treatment from a professional eye doctor. The team here at Kloof Eye are here to help you identify and treat your retinal disease. We believe that an early diagnosis will better your overall prognosis.

Common retinal diseases and conditions

  1. Retinal detachment – This is the presence of fluid under the retina and occurs when fluid passes through a retinal tear.
  2. Retinal tear – This occurs when the vitreous, or clear gel-like substance in the centre of your eye shrinks. Floaters and flashing lights are symptoms
  3. Retinitis pigmentosa – This inherited degenerative disease affects the retina and causes loss of side vision as well as loss of night vision.
  4. Diabetic retinopathy – This diabetic complication is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina. It can develop in people who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  5. Macular hole – This is a small defect in the macular, or the centre of the retina at the back of your eye. A macular hole may follow an injury to the eye.
  6. Macular degeneration – This is when the centre of your retina begins to deteriorate causing blurred central vision. The two types are: dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration.
  7. Epiretinal membrane – This is a delicate tissue-like scar lying on top of the retina. When this membrane pulls up on the retina, you will experience distorted vision.

Symptoms of retinal diseases

Retinal disorders come with varying symptoms depending on the type you have. Generally, some of them share common signs and symptoms that can include the following:

  • Redness of the eye
  • Eye Floaters or spots in your vision
  • Sudden loss of vision
  • Distorted or blurred vision
  • Flashes of light
  • Pain in the eye or eyes
  • Changes in your colour perception
  • Peripheral vision loss
  • Night blindness
  • Nystagmus or rapid involuntary movements of the eyes
  • Photophobia or being sensitive to light

Risk factors for retinal diseases

Knowing the risk factors of vision disorders is imperative although prevention is generally the best medicine.

  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Eye trauma
  • Advanced age
  • Having a family history of retinal diseases
  • Having diabetes or other conditions such as high blood pressure (Hypertension)

Treatment of retinal diseases

There are a variety of treatments for retinal disease that include injections, laser treatments, surgery and preventative therapy. Your ophthalmologist will discuss the appropriate treatment for your particular needs.The ophthalmologist at Kloof Eye will examine your retina by taking a photo of the inside of the eye and doing an OCT scan (Optical coherence tomography) to look at the layers of the retina. These OCT scans enable our ophthalmologist to detect any abnormalities within the retinal structure.

The retina is also rich with blood vessels that can be affected by chronic diseases. Our ophthalmologist also examines the retina by using a slit lamp and a special lens that magnifies the retina so that detail can be clinically seen.

When to see your eye doctor

Potentially serious retinal diseases come with warning signs. It is extremely important to pay attention to changes in your vision and seek medical attention timeously. If you are experiencing any of the above mentioned retinal disease symptoms, make an appointment at Kloof Eye immediately.

Why choose us?

At Kloof Eye, we are committed to excellence. This is why our patients turn to us for the best eye care treatment available. We are proud to offer state-of-the-art retina services in Pretoria. Our experienced and well-trained ophthalmic surgeons are dedicated to providing excellent patient care.

We believe in treating all our patients with sensitivity and empathy. We focus strongly on proving our patients with premium, safe and effective eye care at cost-effective prices. For optimal eye care, get in touch with Kloof Eye today. We look forward to being part of your journey towards clear vision.