Tests, Treatments, and Surgical Procedures

Common Diagnostic Tests
The common diagnostic tests performed in our office are as follows:

• Fundus Photography
  Color photographs of the back of the eye.
• Fluorescein Angiography (FA)
  A diagnostic procedure that photographs the blood circulation of the retina. Fluorescein dye is usually injected into a vein in the arm or hand.
• Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG)
  A diagnostic procedure that photographs the blood circulation of the choroid. (Choroid is a layer of blood vessels behind the retina). The indocyanine green dye is usually injected into a vein in the arm or hand.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  A diagnostic procedure that uses a beam of light and its reflection to obtain cross-sectional images that provide information about the layers of the retina.
• Ultrasonography
  The use of high-frequency sound waves to examine the eye when a normal view is obscured by hemorrhage or cataracts.
• Electroretinogram (ERG)
  Electrophysiological measure of retinal function after light stimulationof the retina.
• Visual Field Analysis
  Measurement of the full extent of the area visible to an eye that is fixating straight ahead.

Treatments
Many retinal condtions, such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal tear, and retinal vein occlusion, may be treatable in the office rather than in the hospital.

The following are in-office procedures.

• Intravitreal Injection
  A method of injecting medication directly into the inside of the eye through a small needle inserted into the vitreous, the jelly-like substance that fills the eye. Lucentis®, Macugen®, and Avastin®, which are drugs used to treat macular degeneration, are given by intravitreal injection, as are drugs for some other retinal disorders.
• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) 
  A laser that uses a low-energy laser to activate a light-sensitive drug that is injected into a vein and travels to abnormal blood vessels in the macula. The light-activated drug then destroys the abnormal vessels.
  
  
• Krypton Laser
  A laser light beam used to cauterize (seal) leaking abnormal blood vessels. It is also used to seal retinal holes or tears. Krypton laser is similar to the argon laser, but its different wavelengths allow treatment of some patients with cataracts and hemorrhage that can make argon laser treatment more difficult. The patient is usually quite comfortable during laser procedures, but, if not, the eye can be anesthetized.
• Argon Laser
  A laser light beam that uses a wavelength different from that in the krypton laser.

Surgery
If your diagnosis requires surgery, Retina Associates' surgery scheduler will coordinate scheduling the surgery with the hospital.

PROCEDURES
Some of the procedures that are performed in the hospital are:

• Vitrectomy 
• Scleral Buckle 
• Epiretinal Membrane Dissection 
• Endolaser 
• Gas Fluid Exchange 
• Enucleation 
• Removal of CNV

HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES
Our surgeons are on staff at most area hospitals in Northeast Ohio. Some of the hospitals are listed alphabetically below:

• Akron General Medical Center
• Canfield Surgery Center
• Cleveland Eye & Laser
• Community Health Partners
• Fairview General Hospital
• Lakewood Hospital
• Lippy Surgery Center
• Meridia Hillcrest Hospital
• Parma Community Medical Center
• St. John West Shore  
• Southwest General Medical Center
• Summa Health System  
• University Hospitals of Cleveland
• UPMC Health Center (Pittsburgh)