Since opening its doors in 1998, the MAC Center has served more than 10,000 patients. These patients have come for the variety of high quality services the Center is able to provide. These services include the following:
Evaluation or second opinion. An appointment for a full eye examination by a retina specialist for the diagnosis and treatment of retinal conditions; or a second opinion to confirm a diagnosis.
Low Vision Services. Patients who would not benefit from standard treatment or surgery can take advantage of the services of the Low Vision Center. The Low Vision Center helps people with decreased vision optimize the use of their remaining vision in order to stay as independent and active as possible.
Treatment options. We offer the latest medical and laser procedures available, plus surgical treatment when necessary and participation in clinical trials when appropriate.
CURRENT TREATMENT AND IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES
Laser Photocoagulation. This is a treatment that can help some patients with wet AMD, depending on the location of the leakage. In this treatment, laser light rays are directed into the eye and focused on a small spot on the macula where the abnormal blood vessels are growing. The laser cauterizes these blood vessels growing beneath the retina to seal the leaky areas. This treatment is useful for a small number of cases of wet AMD when blood vessels grow outside the center of vision. Frequently, this therapy will stabilize vision and help prevent further leakage in order to slow the progression of the disease. It should be noted that laser treatment will result in a small permanent blind spot at the point where the laser "sealed" the leaky blood vessel. Laser treatment does not prevent abnormal blood vessels from forming in the future, so after treatment it is still important to watch for changes in vision.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). This procedure was approved by the FDA in April 2000. It involves injecting a light-sensitive dye into the patient's arm to circulate through the patient's blood stream. The laser beam to the eye activates the dye to seal off the leaking vessels. The procedure takes 30 minutes. Because the dye is light sensitive, the patient must avoid all direct sunlight for 5 days after treatment. This usually needs to be repeated and sometimes requires an additional injection of drug into the eye.
Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT). This technique uses a scanning light to obtain detailed cross-section images of the retina, which allows the physician to determine if fluid or swelling is present, even at very early stages.
Scanning Laser Ophthalmolscopy (SLO). This advanced technology utilizes a scanning laser at various wavelengths in order to see details of both the macula and the retinal vasculature. Real-time video capture allows for angiography video segments that acquires pictures at a rate of up to 22 frames per second, and allows for the ultimate in resolution of angiography.
Autofluorescence (AF). The SLO technology allows for Autofluorescence, a method we use both clinically and on research projects to identify aging pigments and hereditary deposits under the macula.
Pharmacotherapies. A variety of new drugs being inhected directly into the eye are now available. These inlcude Macugen (pegaptanib), Avastin (bevacizumab), and the recently approved Lucentis (ranibizumab). While there is currently no cure for AMD, these treatments can help people maintain more of their vision for a longer time.
Electrophyisiology. Our state of the art facility has a designated program to study the detailed physiology of the retina in various retina disease including hereditary disorders such as Retinitis Pigmentosa and Hereditary Macular Disorders. Technology includes Electroretinograms (ERG), ElectroOculograms (EOG), Pattern ERGs, Multifocal ERG (MfERG), Color Contrast Testing, and many other more specialized tests.
HEREDITARY RETINAL DISEASE PROJECT