At Orbit Eye Centre in Calgary, we provide comprehensive care of all diseases of the retina. The retina is the very delicate set of cells and nerve tissue in the back of the eye. The cells of the retina connect to the optic nerve (in the back of the eye) and send nerve impulses to the brain which is how we see. Various conditions can affect the retina and our vision. With ageing, especially, several medical and eye-related conditions can damage the retina and the optic nerve, reduce vision, or even lead to blindness. Orbit Eye Clinic has the knowledge, skills, and advanced technology as well as the care and compassion needed to best treat these conditions of the retina.
Conditions that affect the retina and which we treat at Orbit Eye Centre include AMD (age-related macular degeneration), Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma and its effects on the retina, retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa and many other less-common conditions.
AMD or Age-related macular degeneration is frequent in the eyes of older people. AMD is the most common cause of visual loss in the over-50 age group. This condition affects a person’s central vision, making it difficult to see clearly when looking directly at something. If you know that you have this condition or are concerned, we routinely diagnose and treat AMD in our retinal clinic in Calgary.
Symptoms may include:
Glaucoma can damage the retina and lead to either sudden blindness or gradual loss of vision. Strictly speaking, glaucoma is not a disease of the retina but rather a condition in which the pressure rises to dangerous levels in the front of the eye. But, the result of too much pressure can be damaging to the nerves that supply the retina and send signals back to the brain. At Orbit Eye Centre we routinely screen for high pressure in the eye and for physical findings of glaucoma on every eye exam. The treatment we provide for glaucoma typically starts with eye drop therapy for the vast majority of our patients. But, if the disease progresses, we provide state-of-the-art clinic-based laser treatment or hospital-based surgery to correct your glaucoma.
Symptoms may include:
As diabetes progresses it affects small blood vessels throughout the body and at the retina and in the back of the eye as well. We routinely screen for retinal changes suggestive of early diabetes on every single eye exam. If you have these changes, called diabetic retinopathy, Orbit Eye Centre has the skill, experience, and advanced technology to offer state-of-the-art treatment. The reason for diabetic retinopathy is your diabetes, so we will always work with you and your doctor who treats your diabetes so that you achieve the best control possible of your blood sugar (diabetes).
Treatment of diabetic retinopathy requires the most accurate assessment of your condition. As such, we will advise frequent eye exams to chart the course of this disease. These tests typically include high resolution scans of the retina to track changes or injecting a die into the bloodstream and taking photographs as the dye passes through the eye. These can help establish the severity of your disease and wherein the eye treatment is needed. And, by doing these tests on a routine basis, it provides a concrete measure of how you are doing.
Our treatment of diabetic retinopathy will be tailored to where there is damage in the retina and how bad it is. Early diabetic retinopathy will only require observation on our part (and optimal care of your diabetes on your part). If the disease progresses and involves the macula, which is the center of the retina and the center of your vision, there are other treatments that we can offer that will help slow the progress of these changes and the damage to your vision.
Symptoms may include:
Retinal detachments and tears of the retina are medical emergencies! This is when the retina separates from the back of the eye. People experience a loss of vision and may suddenly see a lot of “cobwebs” or “flecks” floating around in their vision or what looks like a curtain in part of their visual field. This happens more often after an eye injury, after cataract surgery, in people who are extremely nearsighted, and in folks with a family history of retinal detachment. However, it happens without warning in people without any of the risk factors. The point is that if you think you have a retinal detachment, you need to be seen immediately for an assessment.
At Orbit Eye Centre we have the experience, skill, and advanced technology to diagnose and treat these emergencies, and to provide state-of-the-art follow up care at our eye clinic in Calgary.
Symptoms may include:
Retinitis Pigmentosa is an inherited disease that damages the retina of the eye and causes progressive loss of vision. If someone in your family has this disease, we strongly suggest genetic testing to see if you are at risk. At Orbit Eye Centre we routinely screen for this eye disease and offer state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is an inherited disease that damages the retina of the eye and causes progressive loss of vision. If someone in your family has this disease, we strongly suggest genetic testing to see if you are at risk. At Orbit Eye Centre we routinely screen for this eye disease and offer state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms may include:
At Orbit Eye Centre we provide diagnosis and state-of-the-art treatment for all diseases and conditions of the retina in our retina clinic in Calgary. Here we have mentioned the most common diseases (like diabetes and glaucoma) that cause damage to your retina and threaten your vision.
Dr. Karim Punja, an Ophthalmologist at the Calgary Orbit Eye Centre, specializes in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. He has extensive experience in blepharoplasty (droopy eyelids), Botox & fillers, lacrimal & orbital surgery, and cataract surgery.
Dr. Chirag Shah is a comprehensive Ophthalmologist in Calgary and retinal medical specialist. His practice areas focus on retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal detachments, retinopathy of prematurity (blinding retinal disease in premature babies), diabetic retinopathy, hereditary eye diseases, and hypertensive retinopathy.
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