Retina institute
Retina institute is the part of ophthalmology department that serves the patients primarily having ocular diseases related to retina. These institutes also have elite research centers funded by government and health authorities to promote the treatment of retinal diseases.
Why do we need a retina institute?
There is a need to treat retinal diseases with modern technology and procedures. Here a question arises that what is retina? Why it has become so important? How its diseases impact the human being?
Well, retina is the thin layer of photoreceptor cells that receives photosensitive information and forms real image. It covers interior part of the eyeball. The sensation of image formation travels all the way to the brain via optic nerve. The brain perceives the image.
The conditions that undergo treatment in a retina institute are:
- Retinal detachment
- Macular hole
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age related macular degeneration
Retinal detachment
In retinal detachment the neurosensory part of retina is pulled away from pigmented epithelium layer . It is a serious condition producing blind spot at the detachment site. The retina institute treats this disease as it can cause blindness if not treated.
The surgeons recommend vitrectomy to preserve the remaining eyesight. They remove the vitreous gel and replace it with gas or air bubble to treat retinal detachment.
Macular hole
Macula is the part of the eye responsible for central vision. Macular holes occur in the eyes in older age as a part of senile changes in the eye. The retina institutes treat these diseases via vitrectomy.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a major micro-vascular complication of the retina. According to American Diabetes Association, it is the leading cause of blindness in American adults with nearly 47.7 percent population vulnerable.
This disease causes distortion, blurredness and fizziness of distortion. It has two types: dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration.
Retina institute and immune targeted therapies
These institutes also study gene therapy and try to implement these procedures with an approach to slowdown or reverse the disease. The genes that produce proteins for the proper functioning of retina undergo mutation. This results in retinal disorders.
There are many gene therapies that are under clinical trial for the treatment of retinal disorders. One of the approved treatment is Luxturna. It is the first gene therapy for the inherited retinal disorders. It treats mutation in RPE65. Luxturna delivers functional copy of the gene RPE65 in the retina of the eye. The retina physicians are using viral vitreous for the implantation of genes.
The delivery strategy includes injecting the copy of functional gene in the cells of the retina. The retina institutes are also target for the immune targeted therapies for the diseases like Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Technological advancement in retina institutes
The retinal institutes are one of the most important and most recognized institutes where best and renowned eye physicians work in synchronization with researchers. These institutes conduct research and treatment at the same time.
People who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa suffer from blindness. Artificial retinas are electronic stimulators surgically implanted in their eyes. Bionic eye also known as Argus device provides artificial vision to the patients. The micro electrodes are implanted in the eye along with cameras present in the eyes.
The electrodes take over the function of diseased eye. It raises hope in the patients that the scientific knowledge is advancing to help people see the world. The co-working of researchers and physicians enable the world to witness miracles in the field of health sciences.
Founder of EyesMatterMost- an optometry student who loves talking about eyes. I tend to cover topics related to optometry, ophthalmology, eye health, eyecare, eye cosmetics and everything in between. This website is a medium to educate my readers everything related to eyes.