SERA's physicians and staff want our patients to be informed about every aspect of eye health. The articles presented here will help you understand the conditions for which you are being treated, the diagnostic procedures SERA physicians use, and surgeries and other treatments that may be required. Click on the topic of your choice below to move to that section of this page, or just keep reading!
- Anatomy of the Eye
- Major Vitreoretinal Diseases and Disorders
- Diagnostic Procedures
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Fundus Photographs
- Fluorescein Angiography
- Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG)
- Digital Angiography
- Visual Field Testing
- Electrophysiological Tests
- Surgical and Other Treatments
- Articles Provided by the America Academy of Ophthalmology
- Links to More Educational Information
Anatomy of the Eye
Click the image for a detailed description of each part of the eye.
Click here to read related articles provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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Major Vitreoretinal Diseases and Disorders
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
AMD, one of the most common causes of poor vision after age 60, is a deterioration or breakdown of the macula. The macula is a small area at the center of the retina in the back of the eye that allows us to see fine details clearly and perform activities such as reading and driving. The visual symptoms of AMD involve loss of central vision.
If you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use and store glucose properly. Over time, diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and helps to send images to the brain. The damage to retinal vessels is referred to as diabetic retinopathy
Click here to read related articles provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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Diagnostic Procedures
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) OCT is a noninvasive, noncontact,
imaging technology that takes images of your retinal structures with
a resolution of 10 to 17 microns. Cross-sectional images of your retina
are produced using the optical backscattering of light. The anatomic
layers of your retina can be clearly seen and your retinal thickness
measured with precision.
- Trained ophthalmic photographers
take color photographs of your retina. These photographs allow your
physician to document and follow the progression of your eye disease.
- Fluorescein Angiography Orange fluorescein dye is injected into your
arm. The fluorescein dye will circulate throughout your body and become
visible inside your eyes allowing photographs to be taken of your retina.
These black and white photographs often detect problems with your retina
that would otherwise not be found.
Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG)
- Dye is injected into your arm in order to determine abnormalities beneath
the retinal tissue of the macula. Photographs are video recorded and
analyzed by your physician.
- Digital imaging by a computerized camera is used to instantaneously produce a picture of
the retinal circulation.
- Visual Field Testing Measures both your central
and peripheral vision. Ultrasoundography Uses sound waves to create
an image of the inner structures of your eye.
- Electrodes attached to your skin transmit electrical messages which
indicate how well your optic nerve and/or retina are working.
Click here to read related articles provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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Surgical and Other Treatments
- The word "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is a concentrated beam
of light, created when an electrical current passes through a special
material. Used in eye surgery since the 1970s, the laser is popular
for its unparalleled degree of precision and predictability.
- Pneumatic retinopexy is an effective surgery for certain
types of retinal detachments. It uses a bubble of gas to push the retina
against the wall of the eye, allowing fluid to be pumped out from beneath
the retina.
- Scleral buckling surgery is a way to treat
retinal detachment. It is a method of closing breaks and flattening
the retina.
- During a vitrectomy operation, the surgeon makes
tiny incisions in the sclera (the white part of the eye). Using a microscope
to look inside the eye and microsurgical instruments, the surgeon removes
the vitreous and repairs the retina through these tiny incisions.
- Cryotherapy is a treatment for detached retina that enables your Ophthalmologist
to seal retinal tears.
Click here to read related articles provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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Articles Provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership association of Eye M.D.s. Eye M.D.s are ophthalmologists, medical and osteopathic doctors who provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical and optical care. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s are Academy members, and the Academy has more than 7,000 international members. The Academy is the premiere provider of eye care information to the public, through a variety of materials and programs, including patient education publications.
Click here to read articles provided by the Academy of Ophthalmology for patient education.
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More Educational Links
For more information about vision-related diseases, or to find support groups near you, visit the Web sites of the national, state, and local vision-related organizations.
Click here for a full list.
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