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| Proliferative Diabetic Retinapathy | Macular Degeneration | ||
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The Retina Group, P.C. now has digital angiography available at both office locations. Digital angiography combines the standard technique of Fluorescein
angiography with powerful computer graphics. Angiography is necessary for diagnosis and management of many retinal conditions including diabetic retinopathy, macular
degeneration, uveitis and sickle cell disease. Now, the results of this test can be evaluated by Dr. Chess or Dr. Haft immediately when the examination is being performed. This
allows for better correlation of the patient's clinical examination with the angiographic results and improves diagnostic accuracy. The possibility of treatment without delay leads to improved results for the patient.
Digital angiography also allows us to perform indocyanine green (ICG) angiography, a recently developed specialized test that can detect treatable cases of age related macular degeneration which can not be evaluated by conventional angiographic techniques alone. The addition of these state of the art diagnostic facilities enables our doctors and staff to gather the information we need to provide the best possible care to our patients in consultation with their own personal eye doctor. |
Detachment Eliminates Hospital Surgury"
- A Patients Point Of View -
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"I first encountered the retina in Tokyo," said Armonk attorney Richard Rabinowitz, "in the late 60's, when a friend suffered a retinal detachment." For a period of
several months his friend lay completely immobilized with his head "firmly fixed between sandbags
...(as the doctors waited) to determine whether the retina spontaneously had reattached," Mr. Rabinowitz recounts.
In the early 70's, having noticed some "dust" in his vision, Mr. Rabinowitz, himself was diagnosed with a retinal detachment. He now found himself in the care of a retinal specialist whose medical procedures went far beyond those of sandbagging, but nonetheless required a lengthy period of immobilization before and after surgery. This period of complete immobility added to the terror and discomfort Mr. Rabinowitz already felt. "Complicating matters even more was that the technical aspects.... the nature of the problem and the remedial procedures simply were not understood," explains Mr. Rabinowitz. The postoperative period left him patched, sightless and "helpless" for a week. "How striking the lines of Beethoven and Basie when one hears them over and over in enforced, total darkness," he recalls. Finally the patches were removed and, with the return of light, came an understanding of how precious the sense of sight truly is. Mr. Rabinowitz required additional eye surgery. He then returned to the United States to assume permanent residency`. During Memorial Day weekend of 1991, Mr. Rabinowitz once again experienced a problem with his eyes. The initial perception of trouble was when a black image remained in the visual field when opening the eye against the white tile background of the shower, "Mr. Rabinowitz remembers. Panic-stricken, he called his own eye doctor and was referred to Dr. Chess for retinal surgery. Unlike the treatment of earlier decades, a new approach to the management of retinal detachment was now possible. Treatment was now immediate; there was no lengthy preparation period, no hospitalization, no fear of the unknown. After a thorough explanation of the problem and variety of possible solutions, Mr. Rabinowitz underwent a pneumatic retinopexy. This procedure is performed in the office. The tear causing the retinal detachment is frozen with a special probe and a gas bubble is placed in the eye. Frequently, the retina reattaches and vision returns within a day. His previous experiences with retinal surgery gave Mr. Rabinowitz a great appreciation for the simplicity of this new procedure. Four years later, Richard Rabinowitz returned for his yearly retinal follow-up with stable vision of 20/20 in his treated eye. |
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