Retina Care in Tampa, Sebring, Brooksville & Gainesville

The retina is the thin layer of tissue lining the back of the eye. It works like the film in a camera — capturing light and converting it into signals your brain assembles into images. The macula, at its center, holds the photoreceptors responsible for sharp detail vision used for reading and driving.

Floaters are tiny clumps of cells or gel inside the vitreous, the clear jelly that fills the eye. They appear as specks, threads or clouds drifting through your vision. Flashes are brief arcs or streaks of light caused by the vitreous tugging on the retina. Most are harmless, but a sudden increase in either can signal a retinal tear.

Call us the same day if you notice a sudden shower of new floaters, repeated flashes of light, a dark curtain or shadow moving across your vision, or a sudden drop in vision. Those are the warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment, and treatment is far more effective before the retina fully detaches.

A detachment occurs when the retina separates from the wall of the eye and loses its blood supply. Without prompt repair, the affected retina stops working permanently. It is one of the few true emergencies in eye care.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among Americans over 60. It damages the macula and takes central vision while leaving peripheral vision intact. Risk factors include age, family history and smoking.

Dry AMD is managed with monitoring, specific vitamin formulations and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking. Wet AMD is treated with anti-VEGF injections that can stabilize and sometimes improve vision. Both depend on catching the disease early, which is why annual dilated exams after age 50 matter.

Diabetes damages the small blood vessels of the retina, causing them to leak or close off. Diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early, most treatable stages. Everyone with diabetes should have a dilated retinal exam at least once a year.

Through a dilated pupil, using wide-angle retinal imaging and OCT scanning that photographs and cross-sections the retinal layers. These images also create a baseline, so future changes can be compared rather than guessed at.

Retinal examination and imaging are available at all five Newsom Eye locations — Sebring, Carrollwood (Tampa), South Tampa, Brooksville and Gainesville. If you have symptoms of a tear or detachment, call us immediately rather than waiting for a routine appointment.