Services
At Gulf Coast Retina Center, we provide services that range from medical retinal diagnosis and laser treatment, to microsurgery and ocular reconstruction after injury.
Diagnostic Imaging/Tests
- Fluorescein Angiography:
Performed to evaluate the blood vessels in your eyes for retinal disease. This requires a small injection of vegetable dye into a vein in your arm. Serial photos are taken of your retina through a dilated pupil. This test takes approximately 5 minutes. Most patients tolerate this test very well without any significant effects. Some patients may feel slight nausea for a few minutes. - Fundus Photography: High-resolution,
digital images of the retina, which help to document changes in the eye due to different diseases that affect the retina. These images help us accurately monitor for any changes that may suggest worsening of your retinal disease. - Optical Coherence Topography (OCT): A non-invasive, high-resolution, cross sectional images of the retinal, macula and optic nerve, used to study the anatomy in fine detail. OCT allows us to diagnose diseases such as epi-retinal membranes, macular holes and macular edema (swelling).
B-Scan Ultrasonography: A type of ultrasound, non-invasive imaging device which allows us to evaluate a cross-section of the retina. High frequency waves are reflected by eye tissues and orbital structures and converted into electrical pulses, which are then displayed on a printout.- Amsler Grid Test: A printed grid used to test the clarity of central vision. You will be asked if the lines of the grid seem faded, broken or distorted, and the technician will take note where the distortion appears on the grid. By evaluating the location of the distortion, the physician will better understand the extent of retinal damage.
- Indirect Ophthalmoscopy: After the eyes are dilated, the examiner wears a light attached to a headband and uses a small handheld lens. Indirect ophthalmoscopy provides a wider view of the inside of the eye and allows a better view of the retina.
- Slit Lamp: A microscope used for examining the eye; allows cornea, lens and otherwise clear fluids and membranes to be seen in layer-by-layer detail.
Treatments
- Laser: A highly focused beam of light that is absorbed by tissue for use in many delicate forms of retina surgery. The laser beam can be focused onto the retina, selectively treating the desired
area while leaving the surrounding tissues untouched. The absorbed energy creates a microscopic spot to destroy lesions, or weld tissues together. Laser surgery can be used to treat diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occulusion, age-related macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis, retinal break & detachement. - Avastin Injection: An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (VEGF inhibitor), a medication FDA-approved for the treatment of cancer, but used "off-label" by ophthalmologists to inhibit the growth of abnormal blood vessels (angiogenesis) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and macular edema (swelling of the macula). Other anti-VEGF injections used, that are FDA approved for the treatment of AMD are Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Macugen (gegaptanib).
- Intravitreal Kenalog (IVK): A long-acting steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (triamcinolone) injected intravitreally. Used to treat macular edema (swelling of the macula).
