Medical Retina specialists monitor and treat conditions that affect the lining of the back of the eye, called the retina. Common conditions include age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macula oedema, retinal vein occlusion and inherited retinal diseases.
What are the symptoms for medical retina?
There are various different types of medical retina. The most common are:
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Gaps or dark spots across your vision (known as a scotoma)
- Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
- Words may be distorted or mixed up on a page
- Straight lines may appear distorted or bent.
Diabetic retinopathy
- Gradually worsening vision
- Sudden vision loss
- Shapes floating in your field of vision (floaters)
- Blurred or patchy vision.
Retinal vein occlusion
- Sudden change in vision
- Partial or complete loss of vision
- Usually only in one eye.
Inherited retinal diseases
- Blurred vision
- Occur in childhood
- Intense sensitivity to light
- Blind spots in the vision
- Loss of the ability to see colour
- Loss of side or peripheral vision.
When should I seek treatment for my condition?
The main goals of treatment are to stop, or slow disease progression and where possible preserve, improve or restore your vision. The earlier you are referred from your optometrist the better the outcome will be. In many cases, damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed, making early detection important. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best treatment.