RVC’s doctors possess extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating various eye diseases. Their offices in Rogersville, Weber City and Knoxville provide comprehensive eye exams using cutting-edge technology and quality frames and lenses from RVC. Furthermore, RVC doctors are equipped to perform various advanced procedures within their office space.

Laser Treatment and Injections

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that gradually damages central vision, which is essential for reading, driving, recognising colors and faces and using computers. AMD occurs when the macula – a small area in the centre of retina that plays an essential role – becomes damaged and stops functioning; typically this gradual process is painless; leading to blindness among people over 50 years of age.

Once upon a time, treatment for macular degeneration was limited to intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medication that blocked new blood vessel formation and thus slowing vision loss. But new research suggests that pattern scanning laser photocoagulation may significantly enhance these injections’ results.

This procedure can be performed at the doctor’s office after eye drops are used to numb and dilate the pupil. A beam of light is then directed onto the retina where it creates tiny burns on retinal tissue causing leaky blood vessels to close off, decreasing fluid accumulation underneath it and leading to improvements in vision within three to six months afterward.

This study examined 203 eyes of individuals suffering either early (“dry”) or advanced (“wet”) macular degeneration. To use a semiconductor laser and create patterns on retinal cells while stimulating formation of proteins that help protect from further retinal damage, researchers utilized bursts of light sent into each eye from bursts sent using this method.

UW researchers are testing multiple treatments to slow the progression of AMD. Their focus includes improving photodynamic therapy – using drugs to encourage healthy blood vessel growth at the back of the eye – as well as gene therapy and Macugen. A number of contributors to UW Eye Research Institute are providing funds for these efforts including Edyth Henderson’s estate and Helen Bucey.

Vitrectomy

Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure performed to treat various eye diseases. It may take place either at your ophthalmologist’s office or outpatient surgery center with local or general anesthesia and can last from one to several hours after its induction. Once under, an ophthalmologist will make a precise incision on the edge of your eye using a treatment lens to view inside it before using small instruments to remove vitreous, cataract, or foreign material from it.

Vitreous gel is a clear, gel-like substance that plays an essential role in maintaining the shape of your eye. As time goes on, however, its constituent cells may liquefy and form collagen fibers that cast shadows onto your retina – an effect often experienced with age-related macular degeneration or another serious eye condition. A vitrectomy procedure performed by your ophthalmologist will surgically extract and replace vitreous with saline solution in order to eliminate floaters and improve vision.

Vitectomy can also be used to treat epiretinal membrane formation and vitreomacular traction syndrome, two conditions with potentially severe symptoms that obstruct vision. Vitectomy may be your only viable treatment option in these instances. Furthermore, vitrectomy may also be performed post-injury to extract foreign objects that have lodged themselves inside your eyeballs.

Your ophthalmologist will administer medicine to alleviate any pain or discomfort during the procedure, apply heat using diathermy to avoid retinal blood vessel bleeding during surgery, and use an endoscope to view inside of your eye.

Recent advances in technique and instrumentation have greatly broadened the range of diseases treated with vitrectomy, decreasing operative times and improving postoperative visual outcomes. A key advantage of 25-gauge surgery is that it results in less inflammation postoperatively, which helps prevent irregular astigmatism as well as other issues related to sutures or wound healing, leaving the eye filled with air rather than fluid also helps significantly reduce early postoperative hypotony. As with any surgery, vitrectomy does carry some risk; however with proper care and follow up appointments, recovery should be speedy.

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are corrective lenses worn over the bridge of your nose that refract light entering your eye in order to sharply focus it onto the retina, compensating for eyes that are too long or short or have astigmatism. As people age, their natural crystalline lenses become less pliable; as a result prescription glasses become necessary in order to correct nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia). Furthermore, glasses also help treat presbyopia – the inability to focus on near objects due to normal aging processes.

Eyeglass frames and lenses come in an assortment of styles to meet different preferences. Modern frames tend to be lightweight yet constructed from strong and resilient materials that withstand wear-and-tear, featuring spring-loaded hinges for quick adjustments when bent.

Optometrists or ophthalmologists usually prescribe eyeglasses to correct specific vision problems. A prescription provides written details of the type and strength of eyewear required; its first number, known as the lens power requirement to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness; any number containing a negative sign (-) means thicker lens front than back; which will correct myopia, while one with a plus sign (+) would mean thinner back lens than front; this would correct hyperopia.

Your second number in your prescription indicates the lens power necessary to correct your astigmatism. Your third number (if present) represents the cylinder power; this determines if the lens is convex on the inside or concave on the outside; if preceded by a plus sign (+), however, then this lens will correct for astigmatism that is more apparent in one direction than another; known as spherocylindrical astigmatism.

RVC provides stylish and high quality frames and lenses to fit every budget, and our opticians are happy to assist in selecting the best pair of glasses for your prescription and lifestyle. In addition, RVC provides additional services like anti-reflective coating, photochromic lenses and progressive lenses for maximum comfort and appearance. Get in touch with RVC today or book an eye care visit – you won’t be sorry!