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Long Island Main Office:
Rockville Centre
Ryan Medical Arts Building
2000 North Village Avenue
Suite 402
Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY 11570
Tel: 516-766-2519

Long Island Retinal Specialists

The Long Island retinal specialists of OCLI are leaders in their field with extensive medical training and ongoing participation in clinical trials for the most advanced retinal treatments available for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), retinal detachment, and diabetic retinopathy.

The Retina is a thin, multi-layered sensory tissue that lines the back of the eye. It contains millions of photoreceptors that capture light rays and then converts them into electrical impulses. These impulses travel along the optic nerve to the brain where the brain interprets them as images.

If the retina becomes diseased or injured, a person can experience poor visual quality. There are a number of conditions associated with the retina and the experienced, retinal experts at Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island combine the use of innovative technology and methods to treat a number of conditions related to the retina including Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Retinal Detachment, Diabetic Eye Disease, and Vitreous Pathology.

Read on to learn more about conditions associated with the retina and how the OCLI retinal specialists can help treat your specific condition.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is common in individuals 60 years of age and older. Symptoms of AMD include problems with reading small print, spots clouding vision, and visual distortion. While there is no cure for AMD, the retinal specialists at Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island are world-leaders in AMD treatments, specializing in a number of innovative medical strategies that help slow the progression of the disease including new medications such as LUCENTIS and MACUGEN. OCLI’s retinal specialists also have participated in and continue participation in the AREDS nutritional supplement studies.

LUCENTIS is a new prescription medication for the treatment of wet, age-related macular degeneration. Studies have shown that treatment with LUCENTIS may allow patients to improve vision or keep the vision they have. The ophthalmic team at OCLI has been involved in clinical research for LUCENTIS, participating in studies and trials of medication to develop this cutting-edge AMD treatment.

MACUGEN is used for the treatment of wet, age-related macular degeneration to preserve vision by slowing vision loss. MACUGEN works by blocking the signals that cause abnormal blood vessels in the eye to grow and leak. By slowing the growth of abnormal blood vessels, the medicine slows vision damage and loss.

The Age- Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), sponsored by the National Eye Institute, found that high levels of antioxidants and zinc can reduce the risk of developing Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by nearly 25 percent. The Retinal specialists at Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island have participated in AREDS nutritional supplement studies and continue to participate in studies on AMD.

Individuals who are at a high risk for developing advanced AMD should consult with an AMD specialist at OCLI before taking the AREDS nutritional combinations.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease common in people with diabetes. The disease causes abnormal blood vessel growth and can lead to severe vision loss or blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage to the capillaries within the retina caused by tiny bulges that protrude from the blood vessels (micro aneurysms). Micro aneurysms cause blood and fluid to leak from the retina which leads to vision loss.

The retinal team at OCLI specializes in treating diabetic retinopathy with a number of cutting-edge therapies designed to prevent vision loss including Laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy surgery.

Laser photocoagulation seals damaged blood vessels and prevents leaking. This treatment can prevent further vision loss and is a good early treatment option.

To perform the procedure, a retina specialist at OCLI will place a special contact lens on the cornea to help the laser focus on the retina. The laser seals the blood vessels.

Vitrectomy surgery removes clouded vitreous gel from the center of the eye. The gel is replaced with a solution that is similar to healthy vitreous matter. The surgery can also be used to remove scar tissue resulting from a retinal detachment.

During the procedure, the clouded vitreous gel is removed and the vitreous tissue is cut and removed to maintain the eye’s pressure and shape. Laser photocoagulation may be used to help prevent the formation of scarring and bleeding.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment is caused when the retina separates from the chronoid - a thin layer of blood vessels that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the retina. Retinal detachment is an emergency and time is critical. The detached retina must be promptly surgically reattached or the condition can result in permanent vision loss.

There are several warning signs that appear before retinal detachment occurs. Early diagnosis is crucial to detect this condition:

Sudden appearance of floaters
Sudden flashes of light in one or both eyes
The appearance of a shadow over the visual field
Sudden blurry vision

Surgery is the only effective therapy for retinal detachment. The retinal specialists at OCLI may use one of three surgical procedures to repair a detached retina: pneumatic reintopexy, scleral buckling, and vitrecotomy.

Pneumatic retinopexyis generally used for a relatively uncomplicated retinal detachment. It is performed on an out patient basis and under local anesthesia. For the procedure, the ophthalmologist will soften the eye by withdrawing a small amount of fluid from the space between the cornea and the iris. The surgeon will then inject a bubble of gas into the cavity. As the bubble expands over several days, the retinal tear is sealed as the bubble pushes the detached retina against the surrounding tissue. The retina is then able to reattach itself to the wall of the eye.

Scleral buckling is the most common surgical procedure to repair a detached retina. It is performed under local or general anesthesia and may be performed on an outpatient basis. For the procedure, the ophthalmologist attaches a tiny silicone band (buckle) to the white part of the eye (sclera). The buckle closes the tear and helps to reduce traction on the retina to prevent further separation.

Vitrecotomy surgery involves making a tiny incision in the sclera to remove clouded vitreous or scar tissue.
For this procedure, the ophthalmologist uses a light probe to illuminates the inside of the eye, a cutter to remove scar tissue, and an infusion tube to replace the volume of removed tissue with a salt solution to maintain normal eye pressure and shape.

To learn more about these procedures or to be screened for retinal conditions, call OCLI today to schedule an appointment with one of our renowned retinal specialists.

In addition to treating Long Island retinal surgery patients, the physicians of OCLI also specialize in treating Long Island glaucoma, LASIK, and cataract patients with innovative technologies including Intraocular lenses (IOLs). To learn more about how Long Island IOL eye surgery, LASIK, and glaucoma patients have improved their vision and gained freedom from a variety of vision conditions, please visit our LASIK, glaucoma, cataract, or IOL pages.

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Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island treats Long Island LASIK patients, as well as patients who have glaucoma and/or cataracts. These trained physicians use innovative technology and are considered to be Long Island LASIK, glaucoma, and cataract surgery specialists.