Eye Conditions
First some background!
The human eye is like an old-style camera, with all parts working together to allow us to see.
There is a lens near the front of the eye that focuses light onto the retina.
The retina is the inner lining of the back of the eye (like the film of the camera) that allows us to see.
The centre of the eye is filled with a ball of gel called vitreous.
The macula is a small spot in your retina that is responsible for the centre of your vision. It is what you use to read and see people’s faces.
Eye Conditions
Important:
This information is provided for your interest only. Please note that every patient is different, so this information may not apply to your case. Dr. Gupta will discuss your condition with you in more detail and answer your questions.
Macular Hole
Please print and fill out the following forms before coming for surgery.
The centre of the eye is filled with vitreous. When we are younger, vitreous is like a ball of jelly, and the back of it is stuck down against the retina. In almost everyone, as we have more birthdays, the vitreous becomes more watery. At some point, the vitreous peels away and separates from the retina. In most people, this natural aging process does not cause any problems. In you, however, the vitreous peeled away from most of the retina, but stayed stuck down in the very centre – the macula. Because the vitreous did not separate from your macula, it kept tugging on it and eventually pulled it open into a hole.
At the end of surgery, your eye will be filled with a gas bubble to help the healing process. Depending on which gas is used, it may last in your eye for up to 2 months. With gas in your eye, your vision will be extremely blurry – like being underwater. As the gas slowly disappears on its own, you may see it as a line or a circle in the bottom of your vision that gets smaller with time.
With surgery, you have an approximately 85% chance that the hole closes. If the hole closes, most people have a significant improvement in their vision. However, the vision is usually never exactly as it was before the hole appeared.
At the end of surgery, your eye will be filled with a gas bubble to help the healing process. Depending on which gas is used, it may last in your eye for up to 2 months. With gas in your eye, your vision will be extremely blurry – like being underwater. As the gas slowly disappears on its own, you may see it as a line or a circle in the bottom of your vision that gets smaller with time.
The success of your surgery partly depends on you carefully following Dr. Gupta’s instructions after surgery. You will need to keep your head positioned, as instructed, for days to weeks afterwards. You will also have to limit your activities. For example, until the gas is gone, you cannot fly or go to a high altitude, you should not lie on your back, and you should not drive.
Dr. Gupta will discuss your condition with you in more detail and answer your questions.
Click here for more information.
Epiretinal Membrane
Please print and fill out the following forms before coming for surgery.
The centre of the eye is filled with vitreous. When we are younger, vitreous is like a ball of jelly, and the back of it is stuck down against the retina. In almost everyone, as we have more birthdays, the vitreous becomes more watery. At some point, the vitreous peels away and separates from the retina. In most people, this natural aging process does not cause any problems. In you, however, when the vitreous separated, some scar tissue (an epiretinal membrane) grew over your macula.
The main goal of surgery is to prevent your vision from getting worse with time. Many patients will have a modest improvement in their vision. However, people’s vision is often never exactly as it was before.
Dr. Gupta will discuss your condition with you in more detail and answer your questions.
Click here for more information.
Retinal Detachment
Please print and fill out the following forms before coming for surgery.
The centre of the eye is filled with vitreous. When we are younger, vitreous is like a ball of jelly, and the back of it is stuck down against the retina. In almost everyone, as we have more birthdays, the vitreous becomes more watery. At some point, the vitreous peels away and separates from the retina. In most people, this natural aging process does not cause any problems. In you however, when it separated, it tore your retina. Once there is a tear in the retina, the vitreous can start to seep behind and peel the retina off the wall of the eye. This leads to vision loss.
The main goal of surgery is to re-attach your retina and improve the health of your eye. In most people, at the end of surgery the eye will be filled with a gas bubble to help the healing process. Depending on which gas is used, it may last in your eye for up to 2 months. With gas in your eye, your vision will be extremely blurry – like being underwater. As the gas slowly disappears on its own, you may see it as a line or a circle in the bottom of your vision that gets smaller with time. Dr. Gupta will let you know whether or not gas will be used in your case.
There is about an 85% chance that you will need only one surgery to fix your retinal detachment. Unfortunately, in some people, the retina detaches again and they need more surgeries. Even after a retinal detachment is fixed, most people’s vision is never exactly as it was before.
The success of your surgery partly depends on you carefully following Dr. Gupta’s instructions after surgery. If Dr. Gupta uses a gas in your eye, you will need to keep your head positioned, as instructed, for days to weeks afterwards. You will also have to limit your activities. For example, until the gas is gone, you cannot fly or go to a high altitude, you should not lie on your back, and you should not drive.
Dr. Gupta will discuss your condition with you in more detail and answer your questions
If you are having surgery to fix your retinal detachment, please click here for important information.
American Academy of Ophthalmology Patient Education Webpage:
https://www.aao.org/eye-health
American Society of Retina Surgeons Patient Education Webpage:
https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases
Disclaimer
The medical information on this website is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Please consult your healthcare provider or Dr. R. Rishi Gupta before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. Dr. Gupta expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. Dr. Gupta does not endorse specifically any test, treatment, or procedure mentioned on this website.