The retina is the nerve layer in the back of the eye that is responsible for capturing light images and sending these images as an electrical signal to the brain.
Put simply, the eye works very much like a digital camera. Images from the outside world enter the front of the eye, where they are focused by the cornea and natural lens to the back of the eye (much like a camera lens focuses an image to the digital film in the back of the camera). In the eye, the focused light is captured by the retina and converted into an electrical signal. That signal is sent to the back of the brain where it is processed (like a computer chip inside a digital camera) and our consciousness recognizes the image.
When someone has a refractive error (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism) and a healthy retina, vision is blurry because images are not being focused sharply to the retina. Once the focus is adjusted, the retina is receiving clear images and vision is restored. However, when there is a retina problem, vision cannot be corrected with glasses alone. Vision impairment can be severe and can be affected by black holes and distortion in the central vision, loss of side vision, or even total vision loss.
Diseases and conditions of the retina are often the hardest to diagnose and treat. The doctors and staff at MedEye Associates have been treating retina disorders for over 40 years. We understand how anxious and scared our patients can be when dealing with new or previously existing conditions that affect their eyesight. We strive to provide you with the best options and treatments so that you can have excellent vision for years to come. Furthermore, MedEye Associates is one of the leading research sites in the country investigating new and promising therapies for previously impossible to treat conditions.
If you think you may be experiencing problems with your retina, please call us immediately for an appointment at 305-661-8588. With some conditions, early treatment can mean the difference between restoring your vision and losing it permanently. You can also see what clinical trials are currently enrolling and which may pertain to you.
Call us today for an evaluation or to see if you qualify to participate in one of our