Advanced Retinal Treatments
Discover cutting-edge solutions for retinal diseases at the Retina Centre of Ottawa, where expertise meets compassionate care. Our experienced providers are committed to offering you exceptional care and ensuring your comfort at each appointment. If you have any questions about your upcoming treatment, please reach out to your provider directly.
In-Office Treatments
Laser Retina Treatment
This procedure is used to treat retinal tears by sealing the tear in place. The laser creates a small amount of scar tissue to hold the retina in place, prevent fluid from entering the tear, to prevent retinal detachment.
Intravitreal Injection
This injection is usually given to patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Cystoid Macular Degeneration, and Vein Occlusions.
Anesthetic drops are used before the injection to limit discomfort. Following the injection, patients are sometimes given antibiotic drops to avoid infection.
Surgical Solutions
Macular Hole Surgery
What is a Macular Hole?
Macular Hole is a problem that affects the very central portion of the retina. The most common cause is related to the normal aging process.
The vitreous gel inside the eye is firmly attached to the macula. With age, the vitreous becomes thinner and separates from the retina. Sometimes this creates traction on the macula, causing a hole to form.
Macular Holes often begin gradually and affect central vision depending on the severity and extent of the problem. Partial holes only affect part of the macular layers, causing wavy, distorted, blurred vision. Patients with full-thickness Macular Holes experience a complete loss of central vision.
What will the surgery achieve?
In many cases, surgery is necessary to close the hole and restore useful vision. Macular Holes are repaired with surgery. During the operation, the surgeon first gently removes the vitreous gel with a procedure called vitrectomy. This eliminates any traction on the macula. A gas bubble is injected in the eye to place gentle pressure on the macula and help the hole to seal. Following surgery, patients must remain in a face-down position for one week. This position allows the bubble to press against the macula and be gradually reabsorbed by the eye, sealing the hole. As the bubble is reabsorbed, the vitreous cavity refills with natural eye fluids. Maintaining a face-down position is crucial to the success of the surgery.
What Should I Expect?
Macular Hole surgery is an outpatient procedure and is done at the Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus, 3rd floor. You will be notified by the Hospital for a time and date of your pre-assessment. You will be contacted the day before your scheduled surgery with a time to arrive at the hospital.
There is a greater than 50% chance that your surgery could be rescheduled up to the day of your surgery.
YOU CANNOT FLY FOR 8-10 WEEKS AFTER THIS SURGERY.
Epiretinal Membrane (Macular Pucker) Surgery
A Macular Pucker usually requires no treatment. In many cases, the symptoms of vision distortion and blurriness are mild and no treatment is necessary. Neither eye drops, medications, nor nutritional supplement will improve vision distorted from Macular Pucker.
What is an Epiretinal Membrane?
An Epiretinal Membrane is a thin sheet of fibrous tissue that develops on the surface of the macula and can cause problems with central vision.
What is a Membrane Peeling?
Occasionally, vision deteriorates to the point where it affects daily routine activities. When this happens, surgery may be recommended. This procedure is called a vitrectomy, with membrane peeling in which the vitreous gel is removed to prevent it from pulling on the retina and replaced with a saline solution. Also, the scar tissue which causes the wrinkling is removed.
Epiretinal membrane peeling is performed under local anaesthesia. After the operation, you may need to wear an eye patch for the day to protect the eye. You will also need to use medicated eye drops to protect against infection. Surgery to repair a Macular Pucker is very delicate, and while vision improves in most cases, it does not always return to normal. Some people have significantly more vision restored, some less. In most cases, vision distortion is significantly reduced. Recovery of vision can take up to three to six months.
What should I expect?
Epiretinal Membrane Peeling is an outpatient procedure and is done at the Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus, 3rd floor. You will be notified by the Hospital for a time and date of your pre-assessment. You will be contacted the day before your scheduled surgery with a time to arrive at the hospital.
There is a greater than 50% chance that your surgery could be rescheduled up to the day of your surgery.
Vitreous Hemorrhage
A vitreous hemorrhage happens when blood leaks into the vitreous humor (the clear gel that fills the inside of the eye).
If bleeding is severe, a vitrectomy is recommended to remove the vitreous gel and blood, replacing it with clear fluid to restore vision.