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Retina

Retina

What is the Retina?

The retina is a vital component of your visual system, responsible for capturing images and sending them to your brain for processing. Its health is crucial for maintaining clear vision and perceiving the world around you. Retina care is essential for detecting and treating retinal conditions early, preserving your vision, and protecting your overall quality of life. Discover the significance of retina care and how our dedicated team of eye care professionals can help you safeguard your vision.

Comprehensive Retina Care

We are proud to work with Minnesota Retina Associates to provide retina examinations and treatments for our patients. These Board-Certified Retina experts are conveniently located onsite in our Hutchinson office making your retina care easy and close to home. Retina Services include thorough retinal exams to detect any abnormalities or conditions and ongoing medical retina care. Learn more about our Retina Partners or request an appointment below.

Dr. Tara Schaab is a fellowship-trained retina specialist. Dr. Schaab specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases including macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vascular diseases. She also specializes in retinal imaging as well as in-office procedures, including intravitreal injections and retinal laser. Dr. Schaab just relocated to Minnesota from San Antonio, Texas where she was working as a member of the Retina Faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Mehdi Roozbahani is a fellowship-trained, top-of-class, retina specialist committed to providing expert and compassionate medical retina care to his patients. Dr. Roozbahani specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases, with a particular interest in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular diseases, ocular injections, and retinal laser. His approach is to first understand patients’ concerns and then to discuss latest medical advancements to help them choose an individualized treatment plan for their conditions.

Understanding the Retina

 The retina is a thin layer of tissue located at the back of your eye. It contains specialized cells called photoreceptors that convert light into electrical signals. These signals are then sent through the optic nerve to your brain, enabling you to see and interpret the world around you.

Common Retinal Conditions

 Several conditions can affect the retina, including:

  1. Macular Degeneration: This age-related condition leads to the deterioration of the central part of the retina (macula), impacting central vision.
  2. Diabetic Retinopathy: A complication of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision impairment.
  3. Retinal Tears and Detachments: Retinal tears or detachments occur when the retina pulls away from its normal position, requiring immediate attention to prevent vision loss.
  4. Retinitis Pigmentosa: A rare genetic disorder that leads to the breakdown of photoreceptor cells, resulting in progressive vision loss.
  5. Retinal Vascular Diseases: Conditions like retinal vein occlusion and retinal artery occlusion affect the blood vessels in the retina, potentially causing vision loss.

The Importance of Retina Care

Comprehensive retina care is vital for several reasons:

  1. Early Detection: Regular retina exams can detect retinal conditions at their early stages, when treatment is most effective.
  2. Preserving Vision: Timely intervention and treatment can help slow the progression of retinal conditions, preserving your vision for as long as possible.
  3. Preventing Complications: For individuals with diabetes, proper retina care can help prevent or manage diabetic retinopathy and its potential complications.
  4. Personalized Treatment: If a retinal condition is diagnosed, our team will design a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs and improve your visual outcomes.

We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technology to get a detailed view of your retina, allowing for precise diagnosis and treatment planning. The most common retina imaging techniques used by our ophthalmologists to assess and diagnose retinal conditions include:

  1. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): allows for detailed visualization of retinal layers and structures. OCT is widely used for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal edema.
  2. Fundus Photography: Captures high-resolution color images of the back of the eye, including the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels. It’s essential for documenting the overall health of the retina and detecting abnormalities.
  3. Fluorescein Angiography (FA): FA involves injecting a fluorescent dye into a patient’s bloodstream, which then travels to the retinal blood vessels. Sequential photographs capture the dye’s circulation, helping to identify issues such as blood vessel leaks, blockages, and abnormal vessel growth.
  4. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG): Similar to FA, ICG uses a different dye to visualize deeper layers of the retina, particularly the choroid. It’s especially useful for diagnosing conditions affecting the choroid and identifying abnormalities that might not be visible with FA.
  5. Color Vision Testing: While not a direct imaging technique, color vision testing helps assess the function of the retina’s color-sensitive cells (cones), which can be affected by conditions like retinal dystrophies.
  6. Amsler Grid Test: This simple test involves looking at a grid pattern to detect any distortions or abnormalities in central vision, often indicative of macular conditions.
  7. B-scan Ultrasonography: In cases where the retina cannot be visualized directly due to cloudiness or other obstructions, B-scan ultrasonography uses sound waves to create images of the eye’s interior structures.
  8. Automated Perimetry (Visual Field Testing): While not an imaging technique for the retina itself, visual field testing assesses the entire field of vision and helps detect peripheral vision loss caused by retinal conditions.
  9. Wide-Field Imaging: This technique provides a larger view of the retina, capturing a broader area beyond the central macula. It’s useful for detecting peripheral abnormalities and assessing the extent of retinal diseases.

These common retina imaging techniques play a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring various retinal conditions, helping ophthalmologists make informed decisions about patient care and treatment options.

Our skilled retina specialists are well-versed in the latest advancements in retinal care, offering cutting-edge treatments and therapies to enhance your vision and quality of life.

Ask our Retina team about:

  • FDA-Approved treatments for macular degeneration
  • Premium laser treatments for diabetic macular edema
  • Intravitreal injections
  • Cryotherapy
  • And more!

We understand the importance of compassionate care and support. From diagnosis to treatment and follow-up, we are here to guide you through every step of your retina care journey.

Preserve Your World of Vision

Don’t wait to protect your vision; take the first step towards comprehensive retina care. Contact us to schedule an appointment and embark on the journey to preserve your world of vision today. Together, we can ensure a brighter, clearer future for you and your eyes.

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1455 Montreal St. SE

Hutchinson, MN 55350

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