In a world full of wondrous things to see, the loss of vision due to retinal issues can be devastating.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Amar Patel, of Tyler Retina Consultants, said he chose to become a retina specialist because of the intricacies and particulars in dealing with that part of the eye.
“During medical school, I became interested in all that is involved in treating the retina,” Patel said. “It is a limited field, with myriads of opportunities to improve and treat the vision for those affected by retinal and vitreous impairment.”
According to the National Institute of Health, the retina is “a layer of photoreceptors cells and glial cells within the eye that captures incoming photons and transmits them along neuronal pathways as both electrical and chemical signals for the brain to perceive a visual picture.”
A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist who has undergone additional, intensive training to specialize in diseases and conditions related to the vitreous and retina in both adults and children. Most patients are referred to retina specialists after a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
At the office Patel shares with Dr. Harshivinderjit Bains, the doctors see patients Monday through Friday. They alternate surgeries at both Christus Trinity Mother Frances and University of Texas Medical Center on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Clinical Practice Coordinator Melissa Long said the clinic serves patients within a 100-mile radius. Weekly visits to other locales include those to Nacogdoches, Palestine, Sulphur Springs and Longview.
“We also have a research program,” Long said. “We research medications for the Food and Drug Administration.”
Some of the diseases and conditions treated there, and at other retinal specialty clinics, include retinal detachment and retinal tear; retinal dystrophy; retinal hemorrhage; ischemia; neovascularization; telangiectasia; vascular occlusion; retinitis pigmentosa; retinopathy of prematurity; retinoschisis; and vitrechtomy. Vitreoretinal surgery is also performed through the practice.
Other retinal specialists in Tyler include Dr. Ming Lu with Christus Trinity Mother Frances; Dr. Thomas Bochow at Eye Care Associates, and Dr. David Risner at Heaton Eye Associates, as well as others.
Damage to the retina can cause permanent blindness. That is why early detection and treatment is so vital. One particular disease that affects the retina is macular degeneration.
According to the National Eye Institute’s website, macular degeneration is a disease that affects the retina’s macula, the part of the retina that controls central vision. The macula is located in the back of the eye and is responsible for clear, sharp, straight-ahead vision, as well as the ability to see fine details.
Linda Warren of Jacksonville knows all too well the effects of macular degeneration. Of the two types, wet and dry, Warren has developed both.
“I have the dry kind in my left eye, and the wet kind in my right eye,” Warren said. “In 2017, I tripped over a ledge at a store, and fell against a glass door, injuring my face. About a month later, I started having double vision and then blurry vision. So, I went to my eye doctor in Jacksonville, and he sent me to Dr. Bochow in Tyler. I had developed macular degeneration with no warning.
“I had injections in my right eye for two years. Then it got to the point where the doctor said it was not progressing, so we stopped the shots. Now, I go back every four months for check-ups, and I take vitamins for eye health.”
Warren admits that at any point, she may have to resume shots that are given directly into the eye, but for now, she is thankful her eyes are stable, although her left eye is now weaker than it had been. She can no longer drive and has trouble seeing what she is writing.
Another type of retinal issue includes the use of lasers to prevent or heal retinal detachment. Information from th eMed Atlantic Retina website, midatlanticretina.com, explains how it works.
“Laser photocoagulation, also known as retinal laser surgery, is a common, minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to treat abnormal structures in the retina. There are three types of lasers that may be used in retinal surgery: green, red, and yellow. Green lasers help secure the retina in place; red lasers help treat the retina when blood is present; and yellow lasers help with sealing leaky blood vessels.”
The most important thing to remember for those facing retinal issues is the element of time. Retinal problems can be serious and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Some retinal problems can mildly affect vision, while others can cause severe vision loss or blindness.
Dr. Raymond Boone of Jacksonville, an optometrist who sends his patients with retina problems to Tyler, said those with severe myopia, or near-sightedness, are the most susceptible to retinal detachment, and any retinal issue should be addressed immediately.
“Retinal problems can be serious and lead to blindness if left untreated, so time is of the essence,” he said.
