Taking a moment to sit down with a retinal specialist can provide you with eye-opening insights into how to protect your vision. While most people understand the importance of taking care of their heart and lungs, they tend to overlook how important vision is for the rest of their health. Being able to see helps you enjoy your favorite forms of exercise and read critical information that keeps you safe. Exploring the answers to the most frequently asked questions about retinal health gives you the knowledge you need to make eye care a priority.
What Is a Retina Specialist?
A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist, which is much like the eye doctors you might have seen in the past. But, they’ve completed additional education and training that includes a two-year fellowship to learn about the intricacies that are involved in retina health care. Your retina is the innermost portion of your eye that is responsible for helping to transmit images to your brain. Due to its complicated makeup and significance for vision, retina specialists tend to focus specifically on treating this part of your eye.
What Are Common Retina Diseases?
Brooklyn, NY eye specialists see people with a variety of different conditions that impact the retina. Retinal detachments and tears are common, and prompt treatment can prevent these conditions from permanently affecting your vision. Macular degeneration becomes more common with age, and people with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the diseases that can affect the retina. You can also get infections or develop inflammation in the retina and surrounding fluid that require immediate care.
Should You Worry If You Have a Family History of Retina Disease?
The answer to this question depends upon the type of diseases that tend to run in your family. Some retinal diseases have a genetic component that impacts your likelihood of developing them such as macular degeneration and glaucoma. Others could also have a genetic link based upon the risk factor for other disorders such as diabetes. During your visit to our clinic, we’ll go over your family and health history to identify your risk for certain conditions.
Is Seeing Floaters Normal?
In many cases, seeing occasional floaters is completely normal. Aging causes parts of your vitreous fluid to thicken and stick together, which causes shadows on your retina. However, you’ll want to visit an eye specialist to make sure that this is all that’s causing them if you suddenly see more floaters than normal or experience other changes in your vision.
Learning about retinal health often opens up more questions than you might’ve had before. Make sure to schedule an eye exam with the best ophthalmologist that will take the time to listen to your concerns and provide you with the answers you need. Prioritizing your eye health influences every aspect of your life, and it is worth taking a moment to make sure your retinas are in good condition.