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Retinal Disorders

Why should you receive treatment
for retinal disorders in AMC?

The retina is a thin light sensitive layer of tissue inside the eyes, which is like the film of a camera. The retina consists of ten different layers that convert light rays that enter eyes into electrical signals which are sent to the brain through the optic nerve. The retina’s central portion, which plays a significant role in vision, is called the macula.

The retina can be observed with the naked eye using special equipment. Owing to recent advanced technologies, more accurate and easier diagnosis of retinal disorders is possible through the development of various kinds of auxiliary examination equipment and devices. The retina is also the only organ in the body where its blood vessels can be seen by the observer whom can look for evidence of systemic vascular diseases including hypertension.

Since the retina is constituted of nerve cells, retinal abnormalities that are not detected and treated early may lead to permanent vision loss. Medical professionals in AMC have abundant clinical experience and insight on providing accurate diagnosis and proper treatment using cutting-edge medical equipment through a subspecialized treatment system.

 

Major diseases

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Diabetic retinopathy
  • Diabetic retinopathy is one of classic diabetic microvascular complications. It is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss which can be prevented through regular ophthalmic examinations and prompt treatments.
Age-Related Macular degeneration
  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the representative age related eye diseases. There are two types of AMD, dry AMD and wet AMD. Dry AMD can be developed with accumulation of drusen, wastes of retinal metabolism which usually deposit in the macula and its surroundings. In wet AMD, new blood vessels are created under the retina causing the formation of exudate, bleeding and ultimately rapid deterioration of vision.
Others
  • Retinal detachment : separation of the retina from the back of the eye
  • Uveitis : Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye
  • Macular hole : A small hole in the macula
  • Other retinal disorders : retinal artery/vein occlusion and bleeding

Treatment options

Laser therapy

Barrier laser treatment :
As a treatment for retinal break or degeneration, barrier laser treatment forms a laser scar around the retina to force adhesion, preventing the retinal detachment from progressing.

Panretinal laser treatment :
As a treatment to preserve central visual acuity in various retinal vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion, panretinal laser treatment is used to form photocoagulation on areas of peripheral retinal ischemia to reduce the production of angiogenesis factors and to prevent disease progression.

Injection therapy

Intraocular injection :
The eye is an isolated system from systemic circulation making systemic treatment ineffective when treating the disease. Thus, a different approach has been used recently in which a drug is injected directly into the eye to maintain a therapeutic concentration. Recently, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are widely used to regress neovascular membrane or decrease macular edema in diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion, and uveitis. Since the effect of the intraocular injection is maintained for a certain period of time and slowly diminished; therefore, repeated injections are required. Detailed treatment plans and effectiveness may vary by individual.

Transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy

Transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) is needed to treat eye diseases of surgical indications such as retinal detachment, prolonged intraocular hemorrhage, epiretinal membrane or macular holes. AMC was the first hospital in Korea to introduce the TSV, which became the main surgical approach, and since then has been equipped with cutting-edge surgical equipment. The surgical procedure normally requires hospitalization of up to two nights and three days on average.

AMC’s treatment performance

  • More than 2,000 laser therapies a year
  • More than 8,000 injection therapies a year
  • More than 1,400 TSVs a year
  • More than 40,000 outpatients of retina part a year