RETINAL SURGERY
at V.E MEDICAL, ORANGE GROVE PLAZA ST. LUCIA
To arrange a initial consultation and treatment advise
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT BOX
TELEPHONE TERVITA FOR A CHAT SHE WILL BE PLEASE TO ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
Dr Alejandro Guerra Garcia RETINAL OPHTHALMIC SURGEON
The RETINA is a layer of cells at the back of the eyeball that converts light into nerve signals. It then sends those signals along the optic nerve to your brain. The brain processes those signals into the sense of vision
RETINAL SURGERY IS AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF OPHTHALMIC SURGERY.
V.E.MEDICAL RETINAL SURGERY SUITE OFFERS ALL RETINAL SURGERY PROCEDURES TO …ST. LUCIA, REGIONAL CARIBBEAN ISLANDS., THE DIASPORA, AND INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS.
MISSION
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
A NEW EARLY TREATMENT TO ASSIST IN STOPPING THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.
ONLY AVAILABLE AT V. E. MEDICAL IN ST. LUCIA.
EXPORT OPTIONS AND TRAINING TO CARIBBEAN OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AND OPTOMETRISTS CAN BE ARRANGED.
AFTER OVER THIRTEEN YEARS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE UK, SUPPORTED BY THE NHS, THIS DEVICE IS NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AVAILABLE IN THE CARIBBEAN.
The Noctura 400 Sleep Mask:
The Noctura 400 Sleep Mask prevents and treats Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema. It is a licensed Class IIa medical device
The mask can be used at any stage to slow down, halt or reverse the progression of diabetic eye disease.
Noctura 400 is a safe non-invasive device, used by patients at home every night during sleep, and delivers a low level of light through closed eyelids to prevent their eyes from dark adapting. This manages the nocturnal oxygen demand of the retina during the night and avoids the risk of retinalhypoxia, which is key in the mechanism of retinopathy development in patients with diabetes.
The green light has a wavelength from the middle of the normal light spectrum, avoiding any safety concerns and minimising the potential for disturbance of sleep. A number of clinical trials have assessed safety, efficacy, and acceptability, and the results have been published in peer reviewed journals. In addition to delivering the light treatment, the device monitors usage,
ADVANCED STAGES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
The RETINA is a layer of cells at the back of the eyeball that converts light into nerve signals. It then sends those signals along the optic nerve to your brain. The brain processes those signals into the sense of vision
RETINAL SURGERY IS AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF OPHTHALMIC SURGERY.
DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is a specific, vision-threatening complication of Diabetic Retinopathy.
It occurs when damaged, leaky blood vessels cause fluid to build up and swell the macula—the part of the retina responsible for central, detailed vision.
THE DIFFERENCE
- Diabetic Retinopathy: General damage and deterioration of blood vessels across the entire retina, caused by chronic high blood sugar.
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): The direct result of leakage occurring specifically in the macula. Not everyone with retinopathy will develop DME, but it is the leading cause of vision loss among diabetics.Â
Surgery for macular edema typically involves BOTHÂ laser treatment to seal leaking blood vessels AND depending on the extent of the blood leakage vitrectomy surgery to , temporarily , remove the eye’s gel-like fluid. These procedures aim to reduce retinal swelling, halt vision loss, and address the underlying cause of the fluid buildup.
VITRECTOMY SURGERY IS AVAILABLE AT V.E.MEDICAL FACILITY IN ST. LUCIA
DIAGNOSIS OF RETINAL PROBLEMS
Diagnosing retinal problems relies on a combination of visual examinations and advanced imaging technologies to capture the internal structures of the eye.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT):
This painless scan uses light waves to capture detailed, cross-sectional images of the retinal layers. It is critical for assessing retinal thickness and mapping early structural changes.
Fundus Cameras
(Retinal Photography)
Used to take high-resolution, sometimes ultra-wide, color photos of the back of the eye. It documents the macula, optic disc, and blood vessels to track disease progression.
Ophthalmoscopes and Slip Lamp with Volk extra lens
These are primarily used to shine a beam of light through the pupil for direct, live viewing of the peripheral retina and vitreous humor.
Fluorescein/Indocyanine Green Angiography (FA/ICG)
A safe dye is injected into the arm, traveling to the eye to highlight blood flow and reveal vascular blockages, fluid leaks, or abnormal blood vessels.
Ophthalmic Ultrasound
(B-Scan)
 Utilizes high-frequency sound waves to create images of the eye’s interior. It is incredibly useful when the retina cannot be clearly seen due to dense cataracts or vitreous hemorrhages.
Visual Field Analyzers
 Used to map a patient’s peripheral vision. It identifies “blind spot) caused by underlying retinal diseasesn.
ALL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ARE AVAILABLE AT V.E.MEDICAL IN ST. LUCIA
PRE-SURGERY GENERAL HEALTH CHECKS
THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST AT V.E.MEDICAL, ST. LUCIA WILL ORGANIZE, IN-HOUSE, ALL PRE-SURGERY GENERAL HEALTH CHECKS TO CONFIRM MAJOR SURGERY IS POSSIBLE.
VE MEDICAL HAS A FULL BLOOD DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC WITH EXPERIENCED LAB TECHNICIANS AND ANESTHESIA NURSING STAFF TO PERFORM ALL PRE-SURGERY TESTS.
Dr Marco Diaz
Anesthesiologist
Dr Alejandro Guerra Garcia
Retinal Ophthalmologist
MACULAR HOLE AND MACULAR PUCKER
A MACULAR HOLE is a small, circular break in the macula—the center of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed central vision. Caused most frequently by age-related pulling of the eye's vitreous gel, it causes blurred vision, distortion and a dark spot in central vision.
A MACULAR PUCKER is layer of wrinkled, bumpy tissue that forms on the retina Seeing distorted, wavy lines in the center of your vision is the most common symptom of a MACULAR PUCKER
VIDEO OF MACULAR PUCKER SURGERY BY
Dr Alejandro Guerra Garcia
Watch the video below
DETACHED RETINA VITRECTOMY SURGERY
A DETACHED RETINA occurs when the retina pulls away from the inside wall of the eye. No immediate pain is associated with retinal detachment.
Signs of a Detached Retina – can be gradual or sudden:
- Vision becomes blurred, shaded or distorted
- Floaters of flashing lights may occurÂ
- Â A shadow May descend over the eye
A comprehensive eye exam with pupil dilation is required to diagnose a detachment. If diagnosed early enough, minor tears can sometimes be fixed with laser surgery or freezing (cryotherapy) to seal the retina.
If a full detachment has occurred, surgery is almost always required to reattach the retina.
Procedures include …
- Vitrectomy: The most common surgery, where the vitreous gel is removed and replaced with a gas or silicone oil bubble to press the retina back into place.
- Scleral Buckle: A flexible silicone band is stitched around the eye to gently push the wall of the eye closer to the detached retina.
- Pneumatic Retinopexy: A gas bubble is injected into the eye, and you will be asked to hold your head in specific positions to allow the retina to settle against the eye.
VIDEO OF RETINASURGERY BY
Dr Alejandro Guerra Garcia
Watch the video below
ALL Retinal Surgery, including Vitrectomy, are performed at Orange Grove Surgery Centre in St Lucia to:
- Repair or prevent retinal detachment.
- Repair large tears in the retina.
- Reduce bleeding in the vitreous gel (vitreous hemorrhage), if bleeding is severe or the blood does not clear on its own.
- Treat severe proliferative retinopathy in which scar tissue forms, or new blood vessels grow on the retina and leak blood into the eye.
- Repair macula holes.
If an oil bubble is used, the doctor will need to remove the oil after your eye has healed.Â
Retinal surgery typically lasts 1 to 2 hours.Â
The anesthesiologist, Dr. Marco Diaz and, the retinologist, Dr. Alejandro Guerra Garcia at V.E.MEDICAL, Orange Grove, will decide if you will be under local or general anesthesia.
IF YOU ARE TRAVELING TO ST. LUCIA FOR ANY RETINAL SURGERY PROCEDURE AT VE MEDICAL …..PLEASE CONTACT VIA PHONE, WHATSAPP OR EMAIL
VEMEDICAL@VECARIB.COMOR VISIONEXPRESSCEO@GMAIIL.COM TO DISCUSS THE SURGERY REQUIREMENTS, THE COSTS, AND IF YOU REQUIRE OUR CONCIERGE SERVICE TO ASSIST DURING YOUR STAY IN ST. LUCIA.
THE V. E MEDICAL TEAM ARE FULLY AT YOUR SERVICE TO ASSIST WITH ALL ARRANGEMENTS, AND TO LINK WITH YOUR OWN MEDICAL PRACTITIONER., OPTOMETRIST OR OPHTHALMOLOGIST.