How to Choose the Right Retina Eye Specialist for Your Needs

If you know anything about eye care, you know that there are a large number of eye care specialists to choose from, depending on your eye care needs. It can sometimes feel like a daunting task to pick the right one. Retina specialists treat serious eye conditions like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment, making selecting the right one vital to the success of your vision. In this article, we will walk you through choosing the right retina specialist, outline what a retina specialist is, the conditions they treat, why you might need a second opinion, and the importance of doing your research before undergoing treatment. It does not have to be difficult to get excellent eye care! 

What is a Retina Specialist? 

A retina eye specialist is a board-certified doctor that has specialized in ophthalmology and has undergone extensive additional training to treat diseases and perform surgery on the vitreous body of the eye and the retina. These doctors have completed medical school, an ophthalmology residency, and at least a retina-vitreous or vitreoretinal fellowship post-residency to diagnose and treat specific conditions of the retina. 

As a medical doctor, a retina specialist can diagnose and treat different diseases, as well as perform surgery. Typically, they will work in eye care clinics and in hospitals, helping patients repair and regain their sight when impacted by serious diseases or injuries.

What Conditions Does a Retina Specialist Treat and When Would I Need to See One? 

The retina is responsible for converting images from the lens to electrical signals that are then sent to the brain. It is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that is extremely light sensitive in order to catch the images from the eye’s lens. The retina sits behind the iris and lens of your eye and contains two parts, the macular and the peripheral retina. These two parts and the associated electrical signals are responsible for your complete sense of vision.  Any damage to the retina can change the way you see the world and cause blindness if it interrupts the signals going from the retina to the brain. 

Conditions affecting the retina are very serious and should be addressed in a timely manner to prevent lasting damage. Some conditions affecting the retina include:

• Macular degeneration
• Retinal detachments 
• Hypertensive and diabetes-related retinopathy
• Posterior vitreous detachment
• Solar retinopathy
• Eye cancer
• Macular holes or puckers

If you experience any changes in your vision, such as blurry vision, vision loss either peripherally or centrally, double vision, eye floaters, blind spots, sensitivity to light or any other conditions, schedule an eye appointment with an OCLI Vision office near you without delay. If you have sustained an injury to your eye and are experiencing vision changes, visit the nearest medical center for prompt care. They will refer you to a retina specialist after an examination if necessary. If your general eye doctor tells you to visit with a retina specialist, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you get the best care possible. 

The Importance of Seeking a Professional With Experience and Specialized Training in Retinal Care

The retina is one of the most important parts of the eye and damage or diseases impacting this delicate system can have lasting ramifications on your eye sight. When you need to see a retina specialist, be sure to consider the following points: 

• Does the retina specialist have positive patient reviews? Patient reviews and testimonials can be a very useful tool in selecting an eye care professional that is courteous, transparent, and experienced. Seek out third-party sites featuring patient reviews such as Google and Yelp, not just the providers website. Keep in mind that some review sites will accept paid advertisements from providers, so not all testimonials may be from patients. You may also consider asking in different community forums if anyone has experience with your recommended procedure or eye doctor as clinics will be unable to give you patient referrals due to strict confidentiality regulations.  
• How can you tell if a clinic and a specialist have a high success rate? A clinic with a successful track record of surgery and treatments will make it clear on their website, will highlight the accolades of their experienced providers, and will make it well known that they are experts in their field. The clinic may also provide information on published research and clinical trials performed by the providers at that location, the number of specific procedures completed and success rates, patient satisfaction surveys, links to client testimonials or reviews, and board certifications or professional affiliations for any number of professionals in the network. Keep in mind, any worthwhile clinic will be happy to talk to you about the qualifications and experience of the doctors working there and the clinic’s approach to care. If not, you most likely want to look elsewhere for a reputable clinic. 
• What certifications or qualifications should you look for in a retina specialist? Ensure that your retina specialist has completed an ophthalmology residency and a retina fellowship, in addition to medical school and an internship. Many retina specialists will also have completed ongoing training and specializations, or may be involved in clinical research, to further their expertise.
• What questions should you ask during your consultation? During your consultation with a retina specialist, ask about:
  • Insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses
  • The surgeon’s experience with conditions similar to yours
  • Risks and benefits associated with treatments
  • Timeframes for diagnosis and treatment
  • The experience of the other surgeons in the clinic if receiving care from multiple doctors
  • The technology and methodologies used in procedures
  • Any associated hospitals or clinics for surgery

Do You Need to Get a Second Opinion After Seeing a Retina Specialist? 

It may be comforting to know that doctors are used to patients seeking a second opinion for many reasons. You may want to consider getting a second opinion if you have multiple medical conditions, you are uncertain about the care your retina specialist will provide, you have been recommended a major medical procedure, or you would like to explore experimental or new treatment options. It is important for patients to be advocates for excellent medical care, and any experienced retina specialist will agree.  

Choosing a Retina Specialist That Is Right for You

Ultimately, the choice is up to you, and it is important to ensure that you feel comfortable with your chosen retina specialist. You may have the most qualified surgeon in the room, but if you do not feel heard or respected, than that is not the surgeon for you! 

At OCLI Vision, we are committed to delivering excellent patient care and putting our patients first, and we know that the experienced eye doctors working in all of our clinics care as much as we do. If you need to see a retina specialist or schedule eye exams to get started on a diagnosis, reach out to our team today to schedule an appointment.

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