Retinal Treatments

Treatment of Retinal Conditions

Guthrie’s retina specialists diagnose and treat diseases such as uveitis, retinal tears and retinal detachments, and macular conditions.

Guthrie’s retina eye specialists offer a variety of surgical treatments for retinal tears and detachment:

Cryoptherapy can be used to treat retinal tears and detachment. “Cryo” means freeze, and cryotherapy involves placing a very cold metal piece against the wall of the eye to freeze the retina. This creates a scar that seals the retina against the wall of the eye.
Laser surgery (photocoagulation) treats retinal tears and detached retinas with heat. The laser burns around the tear, creating a scar that seals the retina against the wall of the eye.
Pneumatic retinopexy involves inserting gas into the eye gel to gently push the retina against the back of the eye. Cryotherapy or photocoagulation can then be performed to seal a retinal tear.

Treatment for uveitis can be medical or surgical:

Guthrie Specialty Eye Care treats conditions that affect the macula, including degeneration and holes. Treatment options include:

Intravitreal injections place medication directly into the vitreous cavity, the space in the back of the eye filled with gel.
Photodynamic therapy is a laser therapy. A drug injected in your arm travels to the blood vessels in your eye. When the laser is pointed at the blood vessels, the drug closes the vessels and stops leaks.
Vitrectomy is a treatment for macular holes. The eye’s gel is removed, then a mixture of air and gas is inserted to put pressure on the edges of the macular hole and allow it to heal. The air gradually goes away, and natural eye fluid replaces it over time.
Membranectomy treats epiretinal membrane, also known as macular pucker or cellophane retinopathy, a transparent layer that forms on the inner surface of the retina and can interfere with vision. The membrane is removed after a vitrectomy.