Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD ) :AMD is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in patients over 60 years of age. It is a degenerative disease of the macula which is the central part of the retina and affects the central vision. There are two forms of macular degeneration:
Dry AMD, or nonexudative AMD, where yellow white deposits called drusen accumulate in the deep macula with or without atrophy or ‘balding’ of the layers of the retina/macula. This leads to interference in the function of the photoreceptors responsible for processing of light coming into the eye which in turn causes decrease in vision. This dry AMD can progress to a more severe Wet AMD or exudative type of macular degeneration where abnormal choroidal vessels leak fluid, or rupture and bleed causing severe and often permanent central visual loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy:Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease which affects persons with diabetes. It is the leading cause of new cases of blindness over all ages groups. Diabetes weakens the lining of the blood vessels in the retina causing leaking of fluid, lipid (cholesterol) and blood into the retina and macula. It also causes decrease in circulation to the retina (ischemia). In more advanced stages diabetes leads to abnormal new vessels called neovascularization which can rupture, bleed and stimulate scar tissue formation with retinal detachment.

Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO)

BRVO is a retinal vascular disease most often related to hypertension, elevated lipids/triglyceride/cholesterol, diabetes, carotid artery disease, cardiac disease, or hematologic (blood) disorders. In BRVO there is an occlusion of a branch retinal vein by a compressing, sclerotic retinal artery. This often leads to hemorrhage (bleeding), edema (swelling), or ischemia (poor circulation) of the retina and macula. Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) RP is a retinal degeneration, often hereditary, which affects the photoreceptors (rods and cones) which are the light sensing receptors. Usually, but not always, the rod receptors are affected first causing progressive decrease vision during dark hours, that is ‘night blindness’. There is also loss of peripheral vision leading to tunnel vision. As research into the genetics evolve we are learning more about RP as a spectrum of a number of related retinal degenerations some of which are associated with other disabilities like hearing loss. Most cases of RP are chronic and progress very slowly over decades. Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO) BRVO is a retinal vascular disease most often related to hypertension, elevated lipids/triglyceride/cholesterol, diabetes, carotid artery disease, cardiac disease, or hematologic (blood) disorders. In BRVO there is an occlusion of a branch retinal vein by a compressing, sclerotic retinal artery. This often leads to hemorrhage (bleeding), edema (swelling), or ischemia (poor circulation) of the retina and macula with resultant visual loss.