Stop suffering from retina conditions with services from our eye centers in Wahiawa, Hawaii and Waipahu, Hawaii. The retina, or light sensing nerve layer in the back of the eye, can be affected by conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and severe eye injuries. All of these can pose a great threat to your vision if untreated.
Hawaiian Eye Center provides exceptional treatments for most retina conditions and state of the art technology to diagnose retina eye conditions! First, one of our expert eye doctors will examine your vision and dilate the eyes, then the doctor will look at the retina using a bright light and microscope. Afterwards, the doctor will decide whether any tests, such as fluorescein angiogram, OCT, or other diagnostic tests, are necessary as well as if laser treatment is necessary.
OCT III is a relatively new technology we offer, that allows us to take pictures of and see the retina in the eye in three dimensions. This makes it easier to visualize changes within the retina, such as swelling or bleeding. It can often be used to determine whether laser or other treatments are working effectively. It also allows us to measure the thickness of the nerve fiber layer in the back of the eye, which is helpful in diagnosing glaucoma. OCT stands for “Optical Coherence Tomography.”
Ultrasound tests are another great way to diagnose retina conditions. This test uses sound waves far above the range of hearing to explore the structures within and around the eye. If bleeding occurs that prevents visualization of the back of the eye, we can use the ultrasound to take a picture of the back of the eye so that the doctor can see it.
We also offer Fluorescein Angiograms. This is a series of black and white photographs taken using a camera with special filters. In this test, a harmless dye is injected into your bloodstream and we photograph it as it circulates through your blood vessels. These photographs clearly show leaking and unhealthy blood vessels, which may require laser treatment.
Once diagnosed with any retina eye conditions, we may recommend laser surgery as a treatment option. Most laser treatments do not hurt. Treatments for macular degeneration and for diabetic macular edema do not hurt. Usually, only numbing drops are necessary prior to the treatment. If more extensive laser treatment is done for bleeding from diabetes, a numbing injection is often given to prevent eye pain. What Will the Doctor Do to Examine the Retina?