The retinal diseases and macular degeneration

Mr. Evangelos Manousakis, surgeon ophthalmologist, head of Department of Diseases of the Retina at the…
251 General air Force Hospital, informs us about the retinal diseases and macular degeneration, as well as for ways to deal with them.
The human eyes are essentially an extension of the brain and the purpose of the intake of visual stimuli, which, transported in the back of the brain, are converted to pictures. Operate in a manner similar to a camera with film. More specifically, the visual stimuli after passing through the transparent media of the anterior segment of the eye (cornea, aqueous humor, lens) entering at the rear and after passing through the vitreous body impinge on the layer of the eye called the retina.
The vitreous body of the eye is a clear gel that fills the space between the retina and the lens. Retina is the very thin translucent layer that covers the inner surface of the eye. The healthy retina is composed of photosensitive cells called rods and cones that react to the energy of the incident light on the retina. Thereafter, the visual stimuli are transferred by the optic nerve in the form of electrical signals to the back part of the brain called the occipital lobe, where they are converted into visual images.
The back and inner part of the eye near the optic nerve there is a small area of the retina that determines the acuity of vision is called the macula. In the center of the macula there is normally a deepening, called the foveola, and is the most sensitive area of the retina with which the man sees details and colors. Here is the intake of visual stimuli from the objects that we have right in front of us. It is obvious that any damage to or disease of the retina and the macula of a human being may significantly affect the activities (e.x. reading, driving, watching tv), making it difficult to impossible or even lead to total blindness.
Examination of the retina and macular degeneration
In the event that there is suspicion of a problem of the retina or macular degeneration, the ophthalmologist will take a test called retinoscopy. In particular, with the instillation of specific drops, the ophthalmologist will cause pharmaceutical dilation of the pupil, and then with the help of special magnifiers will examine the retina and the macula. If necessary, ophthalmologic examination of the retina to be followed by a thorough control with the use of very high-tech diagnostic machinery, such as, for example, angiography with φλουροσεϊνη or ινδοκυανίνη, tomography optical coherence (OCT), digital angiography, b-ultrasound, color photography bottom, αυτοφθορισμός, etc.
Depending on the species, the diseases of the retina and macular degeneration can be treated in various ways ( drugs, intravitreal injections, laser photocoagulation, radiation, surgery called vitrectomy, photodynamic therapy, etc.). In most of the cases the treatment must be performed by qualified ophthalmologists with special training in diseases of the retina, and macular degeneration.
What does a specialist ophthalmologist retina;
Saying a specialist surgeon ophthalmologist retina, we mean a doctor who has specialized in ophthalmology for 4 years and has certified over one to two years in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the retina or with pharmaceutical or with invasive – surgical way.
The medical treatments and surgical procedures that are used by their specialists ophthalmologists of the retina is extremely demanding and subtle. In particular, most of the surgeries retina require a microscope. Therefore it is a microsurgery procedure called a vitrectomy. Surgeons vitreous – retinal are working on extremely delicate tissues in an incredibly small space. The tools they use is so thin that many times the ends can’t be seen with the naked eye. The laser is also a vital medical tool that is used in the treatment of disorders in retina both in the clinic and in the operating room.
The variety of diseases and situations which is required to meet the specialist surgeon ophthalmologist retina is indeed big enough. The most common diseases, which are well known to the general public, it is diseases of the macula such as, for example macular degeneration wet and macular edema from diabetes or by a blockage in a vein of the retina usually treated with the use of injections with specific medications (anti-VEGF agents).
The most common surgeries performed by the specialist ophthalmologist surgeon retina for the treatment of vision loss due to:
detached retina (retinal detachment),
επιωχρική or επιαμφιβληστροειδκή membrane (macular pucker),
hole or the ψευδοπή of the macula (macular hole),
bleeding in the vitreous body e.x. due to diabetic retinopathy
υαλοαφιβληστροειδική traction (vitreomacular traction).
Other less common situations in which you may request the assistance of a specialist surgeon

  • vitreous – retina is in:
  • complication surgery cataract
  • choroidal hemorrhage after surgery
  • postoperative infection – endophthalmitis
  • dislocation of iol
  • injury of the bulb with lesions and bleeding
  • hemorrhage under the macula
  • eye tumors (e.x. melanoma)

In any case, the patients who suffer from diseases of the retina or macular degeneration will need to be addressed to ophthalmologists who have either undergone suitable training or have sufficient experience to cope with the complications of both the disease itself and the complications of the application of the various treatments.
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