Diagnostics & Testing

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Retinal Diagnostics and Treatment

The retina plays a vital role in enabling you to see. As such, it is essential to maintain its proper health and function. If this thin layer of photosensitive tissue in the back of the eye is damaged or disrupted, it can result in vision problems or loss.

Men and women of all ages — especially those suspecting or already diagnosed with a retinal condition — need to monitor their retina health, with regular dilated eye exams. Beyond diagnosing any issues, consistent exams are important for your overall vision health.

Diagnostic And Imaging Tests And Procedures

All Retina Consultants of Charleston clinics include a full suite of state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and equipment. Utilizing diverse imaging techniques, our staff of technicians and medical consultants, all of whom are highly trained in ophthalmic diagnostic practices, can quickly and conveniently identify the presence, severity, and location of retinal concerns and abnormalities. Among the diagnostic tests and procedures we provide are:

• Digital Fluorescein Angiography, in which colored dye is injected into the bloodstream and then migrates to blood vessels in the eye. There, a special camera is used to capture images that will reveal the presence of retinal abnormalities.
• Digital Indocyanine Green Angiography, which also involves intravenous injections of colored dye and a special camera to capture images of the eye’s blood flow. However, this test uses a dye that illuminates when exposed to infrared light, making it easier to see the retina’s deeper blood vessels.
• Ultrasonography, or ultrasound of the eye, allows the eye’s back part to be better viewed. This can help identify such concerns as blood in the eye, retinal detachments, foreign bodies, or cancers.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging test, uses light waves to take a high-resolution, cross-sectional retinal image.

Treatments Performed By Retina Consultants of Charleston

Should a retinal or related vision condition be diagnosed, you and our medical team will meet to discuss and personalize a treatment plan. We perform multiple treatment modalities, including medications, injections and surgical procedures, such as:

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves a light-activated drug being injected into the bloodstream that travels to problematic blood vessels. A painless low-energy laser then activates the drug.
• Photocoagulation therapy, also called focal laser therapy or surgery, involves a high-energy laser beam to break down blood vessel damage or seal leaking vessels.
• Pars plana vitrectomy is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon removes the vitreous gel, also called the vitreous humor, from the back of the eye. The vitreous, a clear, jelly-like gel, maintains the eye’s shape and provides a clear space for light to reach the retina. With this procedure, we enter through the pars plana, a portion in the eye’s uveal, or middle layer, as this is an optimal site for ophthalmic surgery.
• Scleral buckling is a procedure in which a silicone or plastic band is placed around the eye, allowing the retina to move position, such as with retinal detachments.