Retinal Disease Treatment in Imo State

Conditions affecting the retina

• Retinal detachment: the retina lifts away from the wall of the eye. A surgical emergency.
• Diabetic retinopathy: damage from diabetes to the retinal blood vessels.
• Age-related macular degeneration: loss of the central, detailed vision used for reading and faces.
• Retinal vein and artery occlusion: a blockage in a retinal blood vessel, causing sudden loss of vision.
• Macular hole and macular pucker: structural problems at the centre of the retina.
• Hypertensive retinopathy: damage caused by long-standing high blood pressure.
• Inherited retinal disease: conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, which run in families.

Symptoms that need urgent attention

Go to an eye hospital the same day if you experience:

• A sudden shower of new floaters: spots, specks or cobwebs
• Flashes of light, particularly in the corner of your vision
• A dark curtain or shadow coming across part of your sight
• Sudden loss of vision in one eye, painless or otherwise
• A sudden distortion where straight lines appear bent or wavy
• A dark or missing patch in the centre of your vision

These are not symptoms to watch for a few days. A detaching retina that is treated early can often be saved; the same detachment left for a week may not be.

Who is at higher risk?

• People with diabetes
• People who are very short-sighted
• Anyone who has had an eye injury or eye surgery
• People with high blood pressure
• Those with a family history of retinal disease
• Older adults, because risk rises with age

How retinal disease is diagnosed

The retina cannot be assessed without dilating the pupil, so drops are always part of the examination. We then examine the retina in detail, right out to its edges where tears and detachments most often begin.

Further investigations help us see the layers of the retina and the state of its blood vessels, and to measure any swelling. These also give us a baseline to compare against at future visits.

Treatment

Treatment depends entirely on the condition and how early it is found:

• Laser treatment: seals retinal tears before they progress to detachment, and treats abnormal vessels
• Injections into the eye: reduce swelling and abnormal vessel growth at the macula
• Surgery: repairs retinal detachment and treats bleeding inside the eye
• Control of underlying disease: managing diabetes and blood pressure is central to protecting the retina
• Low vision rehabilitation: where sight cannot be restored, to make the most of remaining vision

Do not wait

Retinal symptoms are time-critical. If you have new floaters, flashing lights or a shadow across your vision, come to St Joseph’s Eye Hospital Mgbirichi the same day.