What is a Retina Specialist?
A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist (a medical and surgical doctor who deals with diseases of the eye and surrounding tissue) who has received further, specialized training in conditions relating to the retina in the back of the eye. Retina specialists treat a wide range of eye conditions, and we may be recommended to a patient with an eye condition that cannot be cared for by a general eye doctor.
Why Do I Need a Retina Specialist?
Much like professional sports teams have specialists on the coaching staff or a chef focuses his cooking on a particular geographic region, a retina specialist focuses on one area of the eye: the retina, macula and vitreous gel. As a result, a retina specialist is well-prepared to address common and complex problems that affect this particular area of the eye.
A retina specialist is most often called upon or recommended by a fellow ophthalmologist or optometrist when vision can no longer be improved with glasses or cataract surgery, the patient has experienced trauma to the eye, or if there is any abnormality noted in the back of the eye upon routine eye examination. Retina specialists are also asked to see patients who have systemic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, or autoimmune diseases that may affect the back of the eye.