The Retina Service diagnoses and treats diseases and conditions that impact the retina and the vitreous.

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness among Americans age 60 and older. Patients with this disease begin to lose their detailed central vision. The Retinal Disease Service diagnoses and treats patients with macular degeneration with state-of-the art equipment. Fluorescein angiography as well as ocular coherence tomography and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy are available diagnostic tools. We use the latest in treatments including photodynamic therapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, and intravitreal steroid treatment for the wet type of macular degeneration.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness and Alabama leads the nation in new diabetic patients. Patients are evaluated with fluorescein angiography as well as ocular coherence tomography. Patients receive standard laser treatment as well as more experimental treatments including intravitreal steroids, pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling, and other research experimental protocols.

Many patients have flashes and floaters which could be a sign of tears in the retina leading to retinal detachment. The Retinal Service evaluates many patients with flashes and floaters and if retinal tears can be found prior to retinal detachment, they can be treated with laser treatment in the office. Retinal detachments must be repaired with surgery including the use of scleral buckle, vitrectomy, and pneumatic retinopexy.

Many patients present with macular holes and macular puckers. The Retinal Service evaluates these disease entities of the retinal with ocular coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography. The Retinal Service doctors use state-of-the-art equipment to repair macular holes and remove macular puckles enabling patients to recover vision.

Approximately fifty patients per year in the state of Alabama develop choroidal melanomas of the eye. The Retina Service diagnoses patients with choroidal melanomas with excellent clinical examination, transillumination, fluorescein angiography, and ultrasonography. Patients with choroidal melanomas may be treated with Iodine-125 radioactive plaque4 treatment and/or transpupillary thermotherapy.

Many patients have other retinal diseases including macular edema after cataract surgery, inherited retinal diseases, and more rare retinal diseases. The Retinal Service has state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose and treat these rare retinal diseases.