Eye Services
Pneumatic Retinopexy
Pneumatic retinopexy is an effective surgical treatment option for retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a common condition in patients over the age of 40, in which the two layers of the retina detach from each other and from the retinal wall, causing floaters, blurred vision and the appearance of a curtain over the field of vision. This procedure involves a bubble of gas that pushes the retina back against the wall of the eye, allowing for fluid to be pumped out from beneath the retina.
The pneumatic retinopexy procedure is performed in your doctor’s office under local anesthetic. Your doctor will inject a gas bubble into the middle of the eyeball and position your head so that the bubble flows to the detached area and applies light pressure. Cryopexy or laser treatment may then be used to seal the tear. Most patients experience effective results after one treatment, although some may require additional procedures.
Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an advanced technology used to produce cross-sectional images of the retina, the light-sensitive lining on the back of the eye where light rays focus to produce vision. These images can help with the detection and treatment of serious eye condition such as macular holes, macular swelling and optic nerve damage.
OCT uses technology that is similar to CT scans of internal organs, using a scattering of light to rapidly scan the eye to create an accurate cross-section. Unlike other imaging techniques, OCT uses light to produce high resolution images, rather than sound or radiofrequency waves. Your doctor can evaluate and measure each layer of the retina through this image and compare it with normal, healthy images of the retina.
The OCT exam takes about 10 to 20 minutes to perform in your doctor's office, and usually requires dilation of the pupils for the best results.
Fluorescein Angiography
Fluorescein angiography is the practice of taking photographs of blood vessels inside the eye (an angiogram) with the help of a contrast dye (fluorescein dye). These pictures help doctors evaluate the retina and diagnose and track problems such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, abnormal vessel growth, swelling, leaking, retinal detachment, cancer or tumors.
First, the patient's pupils are dilated with eye drops. Then a few photographs are taken with a special ophthalmic camera. Next, the contrast dye is injected, usually in the patient's arm. The dye travels up to the eye within a few seconds and "lights up" the blood vessels for the camera. Once the dye is in place, the doctor will take more photographs. Then the needle is removed. After about 20 minutes, a final set of photographs is taken for comparison.
Indocyanine Green Angiography
Indocyanine green angiography is a diagnostic test that involves taking photographs of the blood vessels in the eye with the help of a contrast dye. Indocyanine is a green dye that works with infrared light to be captured by the special camera. The images produced by these tests help doctors evaluate the retina and diagnose or monitor problems such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, abnormal vessel growth, swelling, leaking, retinal detachment, cancer or tumors.
During this exam, photographs are taken both before and after the contrast dye is injected to properly compare the results and provide an accurate diagnosis.
Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses sound waves to capture images of the retina when the vitreous has become so clouded that it does not allow light to pass effectively through the eye. This procedure can often help detect retinal detachments and tumors in the back of the eye when they cannot normally be viewed. The results of ultrasonography can be used to plan a course of treatment and prevent permanent vision loss from these serious conditions.
This exam uses the same technology as any other type of ultrasound procedure, including an obstetrical ultrasound used to examine a fetus still in the womb. During the procedure, sound waves are beamed into the eye and reflected back to produce an image that your doctor can use to evaluate the state of the retina and other ocular structures. There is no anesthesia needed for this procedure, and it can be performed easily in your doctor’s office. Ultrasonography is painless and safe for all patients and does not involve any exposure to radiation.
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