SERVICES

Dr. O’Sullivan and his staff provide eye exams and treatment for diseases affecting the vitreous and retina. He is specially trained in the latest advanced techniques for treatment of:

  • + Diabetic eye disease
  • + Macular degeneration
  • + Retinal detachments
  • + Retinal occlusive disease
  • + Macular holes
  • + Epiretinal membranes
Procedures Performed in Clinic

Most visits to Southern Retinal Institute will require basic assessments including vision checks, eye pressure checks, taking a history of vision concerns, and obtaining a list of current medications.

During some visits, advance photography is used to allow the physician to see subtle details of the retina.  Examples of this type of photography include:

OCT
  • OCT stands for optical coherence tomography. A healthy retina is composed of multiple layers.  Each layer should have its own healthy, thickness.  Changes in the thickness of the retina allow the physician to diagnosis what is happening to the retina.  OCT uses special light waves to measure the thickness of these layers in the eye.
IVFA
  • The retina is complex and is composed of nerve layers and blood vessels as well as other tissues. The blood vessels that are located in the retina are able to be examined using a special technique and camera called Intravenous Fluorescein Angiography (IVFA).  In this procedure, the eye is dilated, and a special dye is injected into the arm.  Within 10-15 seconds, the dye that was injected into the arm passes through the blood vessels located in the back of the eye.  When the progression of dye occurs, photographs are taken.  The filling of the blood vessels with as well as the clearing of the dye allows the physician to see what parts of the eye are healthy or unhealthy.  This information allows the physician to target treatment to the most affected part of the eye.
Fundus photography
  • Much as a regular camera can document physical changes in other objects, fundus photography is a specialized camera that allows detailed photos to be made of the retina. These photographs assist the physician to identify problems with the retina and track changes (improvements or worsening) over time.
B-scan
  • B-scan is a term that describes an ultrasound of an eye through a closed eyelid. When examining the eye through normal techniques is ineffective, a B-scan allows the physician to see other components of the eye.

 

Depending on what information is gained allows the physician to determine the diagnosis and proper treatment required.  In some case, further procedures are needed in order to preserve or improve vision.  Examples of common procedures performed in clinic are:

Intravitreal injections

An intravitreal injection is a method of placing medication inside the eye. This type of treatment is very effective at preserving vision and is the most common procedure performed in clinic.  The procedure typically takes 15 minutes. A brief description of the procedure follows.

    • + An anesthetic is applied to the eye to help numb the surface of the eye. Common anesthetics come in gel form or as a drop.
    • + Once the eye has been numbed, the eye is carefully cleaned with an antiseptic to prevent infection.
    • + Using a tiny and very thin needle (as thin as a strand of hair), the physician inserts the needle into the white part of the part in order to insert the medicine into the back of the eye.
    • + Once the injection is complete, the eye is cleaned again.
    • + Following the procedure, it is common for the eye to have some irritation and sometimes a red spot develops (this is a type of bruise called a subconjunctival hemorrhage), which typically resolves overall several days.
    • + Although unlikely, please call the clinic if you have any of the following changes:
      • • Eye pain or discomfort
      • • Decreased vision
      • • Increased floaters
      • • Increased sensitivity to light
Subtenon steroid injections

A subtenon injection is very similar to an intravitreal injection. The difference lies in the placement of the medication.  In a subtenon injection, the medication is injected in the space just below the eye.  The procedure typically takes 15 minutes.  A brief description of the procedure follows.

    • + An anesthetic is applied to the eye to help numb the surface of the eye. Common anesthetics come in gel form or as a drop.
    • + Once the eye has been numbed, the eye is carefully cleaned with an antiseptic to prevent infection.
    • + Using a tiny and very thin needle (as thin as a strand of hair), the physician inserts the needle below the eye.
    • + Once the injection is complete, the eye is cleaned again.
    • + Following the procedure, it is common for the eye to have some irritation and sometimes a red spot develops (this is a type of bruise called a subconjunctival hemorrhage), which typically resolves overall several days.
    • + Although unlikely, please call the clinic if you have any of the following changes:
      • • Eye pain or discomfort
      • • Decreased vision
      • • Increased floaters
      • • Increased sensitivity to light
Lasers

Lasers are used to help treat bleeding that occurs in the retina, usually related to diabetes. In addition, it can be used to treat retinal tears or detachments.  Using a very focused beam of light, the laser is used to make microscopic burns to stop the bleeding.  In order to perform this procedure, several steps are taken.

    • + An anesthetic is applied to the eye to help numb the surface of the eye. Common anesthetics come in gel form or as a drop.
    • + Occasionally, a special contact is applied to the front of the eye to help the eye stay in place during the procedure.
    • + The physician then administers the laser.
    • + Although unlikely, once the contact is removed, please call the clinic if you have any of the following:
      • • Eye pain or discomfort
      • • Decreased vision
      • • Increased floaters
      • • Increased sensitivity to light