Vitreo-Retinal Care: Protecting the Back of Your Eye
We offer tertiary vitreo-retinal services, treating diabetic eye disease, retinal detachments, macular disorders, and age-related retinal conditions.
What are Retinal Disorders?
The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue lining the back of your eye. Its purpose is to receive the light that the cornea and lens focus, convert it into neural signals, and transmit those signals through the optic nerve to the brain for visual recognition. The vitreous is a clear, gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina.
Retinal disorders affect this delicate neural tissue. Some conditions mildly affect vision, while others can lead to complete, irreversible blindness if left untreated. Crucially, the early stages of retinal damage may not present any noticeable visual changes, which is why regular dilated eye checkups are essential for early detection.
Retinal Disease Symptoms
- Seeing floating spots, cobwebs, or thin lines in your field of vision (Floaters).
- Flashes of light in one or both eyes, especially in dim lighting.
- A dark curtain-like shadow falling across your field of vision.
- Distortion of straight lines (appearing wavy) and blurred central vision.
Common Retinal Conditions We Treat
Diabetic Retinopathy
Damage to the tiny blood vessels of the retina caused by high blood sugar levels. Can cause swelling (macular edema) or abnormal new vessel growth that bleeds easily.
Retinal Detachment
An emergency condition where the retina pulls away from its underlying supportive tissue layer. Requires immediate surgical repair to preserve vision.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Gradual deterioration of the macula (the central area of the retina), causing loss of sharp, straight-ahead reading and facial-recognition vision in older adults.
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
A retinal disease affecting premature babies, characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth. We offer specialized screening for neonates.
Advanced Retinal Procedures
Sankar Foundation houses a dedicated Vitreo-Retinal department equipped with high-precision surgical microscopes, wide-angle viewing systems, and diagnostic tools (like OCT-Angiography and Digital Fundus Camera):
Intravitreal Injections
Delivery of anti-VEGF drugs or steroid implants directly into the vitreous to treat wet AMD, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusions.
Retinal Laser Therapy
In-office photocoagulation laser to seal leaking blood vessels, treat retinal tears, and prevent progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Vitrectomy Surgery
Advanced microsurgical removal of the vitreous gel to repair retinal detachments, clear vitreous hemorrhage, and treat macular holes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes eye floaters and are they dangerous?+
Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that cast shadows on the retina. Most floaters are harmless parts of the normal aging process. However, a sudden shower of new floaters, especially when accompanied by light flashes or a dark curtain shadow, is an emergency and could indicate a retinal tear or detachment.
How does diabetes affect the eyes?+
High blood sugar levels damage the walls of the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing them to leak fluid, swell, or close off entirely. In advanced stages (proliferative diabetic retinopathy), abnormal new fragile blood vessels grow on the retina and bleed into the eye, causing severe vision loss.
Are intravitreal injections painful?+
No. Before the injection, the eye is thoroughly numbed using local anesthetic drops and/or a small injection of gel. Patients may feel a mild pressure sensation during the procedure, but it is typically painless and takes less than a minute.
How urgent is a retinal detachment?+
It is an absolute medical emergency. If you experience symptoms like flashes of light, a sudden increase in floaters, or a shadow blocking your vision, you must see a vitreo-retinal specialist immediately. Delaying treatment can lead to permanent, irreversible sight loss.