New Treatment for Macular holes
Recent approval of Jetrea (Ocriplasmin) to treat symptomatic VMA (Vitreo Macular Adhesion) has opened up a new era in non surgical management of macular holes. Previously only a hospital based surgery was able to reverse the process of macular hole development but now a new drug can be injected into the eye painlessly in the office and within a few weeks the process reverses back to more normal vision levels.... more
FDA Approves ASRS Leader's ArgusŪ II Artificial Retina
On February 14, the FDA approved the Argus II artificial retina developed by ASRS Executive Committee and Board Member Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD.
This breakthrough technology is the first ever to offer limited vision to patients with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Second Sight Medical Products (Sylmar, CA) manufactures the Argus II implant, which has 60 electrodes and a tiny camera mounted on eyeglasses to capture images.
The FDA approved Argus II for adults age 25 years or older with severe to profound RP. About 10,000 to 15,000 of the 100,000 Americans with RP will qualify for Argus II. Up to 4,000 patients a year can be treated with the device.
Macular degeneration and Aspirin?
Aspirin and Macular degeneration... is there an increase in the wet form of macular degeneration in those patients taking aspirin? The wet form develops quicker than the dry form. It may only be related to the fact that you are more likely to take aspirin if you have medical problems like stroke or heart attacks in the past and these conditions are more commonly associated with wet age related macular degeneration. ... more
Overview:
If you have recently undergone surgery to remove cataracts, be sure to attend all follow up appointments with your physician. If you experience any of the symptoms below, contact your eye doctor or physician at East Carolina Retina immediately for an evaluation.
Symptoms & Types:
Retinal Detachment:
If you experience sudden side or partial vision loss, or see flashes of light or floating strings or dots in your field of vision, consult a physician immediately. Retinal detachments are best treated when discovered promptly. Read more here.
Endophthalmitis is a bacterial infection of the eye, and can occur from on day to one week after invasive eye surgery of any kind. Following surgery, if you experience heavy swelling of the eye, increasing pain, redness or vision loss, seek immediate attention from your eye doctor or one of our East Carolina Retina physicians. Read more.
Treatment:
For a retinal detachment, your physician may choose to perform a pneumatic retinopexy or a vitrectomy depending on the severity and type of detachment you have experienced.
For Endophthalmitis, aggressive treatment to preserve sight may include intraocular antibiotics administered directly into the eye, an eye culture to identify the infection or a vitrectomy procedure to remove infected vitreous gel.
Prevention:
Follow all physician instructions carefully following cataracts surgery and note any changes that occur with your eyesight. Do not rub the eye. If you experience vision loss, contact the surgeon that performed the surgery to have your eye(s) examined. If there are complications regarding your retina, your cataract surgeon will refer you to East Carolina Retina Consultants immediately.