Retinal Diseases

A large portion of the ophthalmology cases seen by University of Mississippi Medical Center specialists involves diseases of the eye's retina and transparent gel (vitreous). Our retinal specialist provides services such as fluorescein angiography, ultrasonography, laser treatment (including photodynamic therapy and transpupillary thermotherapy), and follow-up appointments to retina patients.

Diseases we treat include:

Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss among adults over 65. Because only the center of vision is affected, people rarely go blind from this disease. However, AMD can make it difficult to read, drive, perform other daily activities, and can even impact a person's ability to recognize faces. UMMC specialists offer injectable drug treatments (anti-angiogenic therapy) and laser therapy as care options for this disease.

Diabetic retinopathy

A complication of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina and is a leading cause of adult blindness. Early stage retinopathy may have no symptoms, and vision may not change until the disease progresses. People living with diabetes should have their eyes checked regularly and manage blood sugars to reduce the chance of developing vision problems.

According to the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 95 percent chance of keeping their vision when they seek treatment before the retina becomes severely damaged. UMMC offers advanced care for retinopathy, including injectable drug treatments and laser treatments.

Other retinal diseases

Other retinal diseases treated by UMMC specialists include:

• Retinal vein occlusion – Treated with intraocular drug injection and laser photocoagulation
• Detached retina – Treated with laser therapy and surgery
• Choroidal melanoma – Treated with brachytherapy, laser, cryo destruction, and en-bloc eye wall resection
• Severe ocular penetrating injury – Treated with reconstructive procedure (including temporary keratoprosthesis)