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What We Do

Retinal detachments

What is a retinal detachment?

A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from its attachments to the underlying tissue within the eye. Most retinal detachments are a result of a retinal break, hole, or tear. These retinal breaks may occur when the vitreous gel pulls loose or separates from its attachment to the retina. If untreated it leads to vision loss and blindness. It is a medical emergency

What are the risks of retinal detachment?

Previous retinal detachment, family history of retinal detachment, extreme near-sightedness, previous severe eye injury or trauma and areas on the sides of the eyes that are weak and aging and cataract surgery are risk factors for retinal detachments.

What are the symptoms of retinal detachment?

  • flashes of light – very brief in the extreme peripheral (outside of center) part of vision
  • a sudden dramatic increase in the number of floaters
  • a ring of floaters or hairs just to the temporal side of the central vision
  • a slight feeling of heaviness in the eye
  • Sudden loss of vision

How is a retinal detachment repaired?

A retinal detachment is repaired by surgery. The most common type of surgery is a vitrectomy where the vitreous jelly is removed, the retinal detachment is repaired and the eye is filled with gas or silicone oil, which helps in re-attaching the retina. A full explanation is provided by the doctor to help you understand what has happened. This surgery is performed by Dr Harris Shahzad & Dr Rehman Siddiqui at Shahzad Eye Hospital.

What happens after surgery?

After surgery, you will most probably be asked to stay in a particular position, most commonly head facing downward. You will feel slightly drowsy (due to the anesthetic during the operation) and some pain may be experienced. Pain killers and anti-sickness medications are provided to you after the surgery.

Will I go blind without surgery?

If the retinal detachment has occurred and you do not have it fixed, the chances of you going blind are very high.

Macular holes

What is a macular hole?

macular hole is a small break in the macula, located in the center of the eye’s light-sensitive tissue called the retina

How does a macular hole form?

Shrinking of the vitreous usually causes the hole. As a person ages, the vitreous becomes thicker and stringier and begins to pull from the retina. If the vitreous is firmly attached to the retina when it pulls away, a hole can result

What are the symptoms of macular holes?

Blurring and distorting central vision or sudden decrease in vision are the symptoms seen by patients.

Can and how a macular hole be fixed?

If the hole isn’t too old and not very big, this can be fixed by surgery. This involves a vitrectomy and use of intra-ocular gas. This surgery is performed by Dr Harris Shahzad and Dr Rehman Siddiqui at Shahzad Eye Hospital.

What are the complications of macular hole surgery?

The most common complication is failure of the hole to close. This occurs between 10-15% of all surgeries.

What happens after macular hole surgery?

After the surgery, you would be told to position your head downwards for a fixed number of hours for a couple of days at most. You would also be asked to use eye drops and you would visit the doctor for follow up consultations.

Macular epiretinal membranes

What is a ERM?

This is referred to a transparent layer gradually increasing, on the retina which may bulge and pucker (e.g. macular pucker), or even cause swelling or Macular edema.

What are the symptoms of ERM?

Blurring of vision, distortion and decreased vision is what is experienced by patients.

How can a ERM be fixed?

This can be removed by surgery. A vitrectomy is performed and the membrane is peeled off the macular area on the retina. This surgery is performed by Dr Harris Shahzad and Dr Rehman Siddiqui at Shahzad Eye Hospital.

What happens after surgery?

After the surgery, you would be told to position your head downwards for a fixed number of hours for a couple of days at most. You would also be asked to use eye drops and you would visit the doctor for follow up consultations.

Diabetic eye diseases

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition whereby damage occurs to the small blood vessels in the retina. This may cause swelling in the retina, ischaemia (low oxygen) in the retina and more severe complications, which can lead to blindness.

The treatment include laser therapy to the retina or injections of Anti-VEGF drugs into the eye. In some patients with diabetes more extensive surgery is required – there are two main reasons why a patient with diabetes may need surgery:

  • Vitreous Hemorrhage
  • Diabetic Retinal detachment

Diabetic Hemorrhage

Diabetes causes abnormal blood vessels to appear in the eye. Laser treatment is used to try to prevent these occurring. These blood vessels are fragile and bleed easily. Sometimes they bleed into the jelly of the eye (the vitreous) reducing vision. Where this has occurred, the vitreous and the bleed are removed by way of an operation known as a vitrectomy and more laser is applied.

Diabetic Retinal Detachment

Abnormal blood vessels produce scarring which can produce a retinal detachment. To treat this the vitreous is removed and the scars are dissected off the retina. A bubble of gas or silicone oil may be used to support the retina.

Post operatively, these patients are prohibited from travelling by plane whilst a gas bubble is in the eye.

Anti-VEGF injections

Different injections are in given in the eye for a variety of eye problems, primarily AMD and diabetic eye diseases. The injections include Avastin (Bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab) or Eylea (Aflibercept)

Dr MH Shahzad and & Dr Harris Shahzad both administer these injections