Your eye works much like the lens of a camera. Light is reflected off an object then passes through the cornea and lens of your eye. The cornea  and lens are responsible for bending this light so that it lands directly onto the retina. The retina is the nerve layer that senses light and sends impulses through the optic nerve to the brain about what has been seen.

When you have refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, your cornea is irregular in shape and won’t focus light correctly onto the retina. These issues can be corrected with laser vision correction, glasses, or contacts. When you have a problem with your retina, often the vision impairment is much more severe. You may have black holes in your line of sight, a curtain or veil blocking part of your vision, wavy or distorted vision, or even a total loss of vision, depending upon the condition.

Diseases and conditions of the retina are often the hardest to diagnose and treat. The doctors and staff at Colorado Ophthalmology Associates have been treating retina disorders for over 50 years. We understand how anxious and scared our patients can be when dealing with new or previously existing conditions that affect their eyesight. We strive to provide you with the best options and treatments so that you have excellent vision for years to come.

If you think you may be experiencing problems with your retina, please CALL US immediately for an appointment or book your appointment online. With some conditions, early treatment can mean the difference between restoring your vision and losing it permanently.

Retinal Tears

Your eye is filled with vitreous – a fluid or gel-like substance to help your eye keep its round shape. The normal aging process of the eye will find the vitreous shrinking and pulling away from the retina on inner walls of the eye. When this happens, the retina can tear. This may cause a patient to notice flashes or floaters, decreased vision, unexplained shadows in your line of vision.

Retinal tears are a serious problem as they can lead to internal bleeding in the eye or a detached retina. It is important to get a dilated eye exam as quickly as possible after symptoms start.

Macular Holes

The macula is a collection of nerve cells found in the middle of the retina. This is where the eye focuses the images that we see. A macular hole is a hole that forms in this collection of nerve cells. Macular holes are created when the vitreous gel, or fluid in your eye, pulls away from the tissue, due to aging. Vitreous is attached to your retina by very fine fibers, and when it pulls away from the wall of your eye, these fibers can cause small holes to form in the retina.

Left untreated, macular holes can lead to retinal detachment.

Treatment of Macular Holes

A vitrectomy is the most commonly used treatment for macular holes. During this treatment, the surgeon will remove the vitreous gel and replace it with a gas bubble. Then the surgeon will repair the damage. Eventually, the gas bubble will dissipate and it will be replaced by the patient’s bodily fluid.

If you have suffered a relatively rapid loss in vision in one eye you should call for an appointment to determine the cause of the vision loss. Call us at 303-320-1777.

Macular Pucker Surgery

The macula is part of the retina, in the back of the eye. It is a collection of nerves where the eye focuses the images that we see. The macula normally lies very flat against the back of the eye. When trauma or surgery happens to an eye, scar tissue or cells can grow within the eye. These cells or scars can pull on the macula and create a wrinkle, or pucker. Diseases can also cause scar tissue within the eye. These additional tissues are known as epiretinal membranes. Often the actual cause of the pucker may not be known.

Some patients with a macular pucker may not notice any impairment of vision. In patients where this is the case, treatment may not be necessary.