There's No Subsitute for Specialized Retinal Care
Vision problems can be alarming, and they should be addressed as soon as possible. If you’re unsure about the cause of your symptoms or what your treatment options are, you'll likely turn to a general ophthalmologist for an exam. Ophthalmology is a broader branch of eye-focused medicine with multiple specialties tucked under its umbrella. If your ophthalmologist spots any signs of retinal issues, they may refer you to a retina specialist practice like Southeastern Retina Associates (SERA).
General Ophthalmologist vs. Retina Specialist Services
A general ophthalmologist specializes in medical and surgical eye care. To reach this milestone, they must complete a four-year undergraduate program, a four-year medical school program, a one-year internship, and a three-year residency program.
A general ophthalmologist can provide a number of services for their patients like:
- General eye exams
- Treatment for cataracts and glaucoma
- Eye surgery
- Prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses
- Vision therapy
Retina specialists go through the same schooling as general ophthalmologists, but with additional training to identify and treat specific retinal injuries and conditions, including:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Vein and artery occlusions
- Macular conditions (e.g. macular holes, macular puckers, etc.)
- Retinal tears and detachments
- Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)
- Central serous retinopathy
- Cystoid macular edema (CME)
- Degenerative myopia
- And more
SERA’s Approach to Care
SERA is a specialized practice that exclusively focuses on the treatment of retina and vitreous diseases. Our board certified team of doctors have an accumulated 237 years of experience, effectively diagnosing and treating vision-threatening conditions since 1980. When you come to us, you can expect our retina specialists to combine the latest in cutting-edge science with attention to consistency and details to provide the best treatment outcomes possible.
Our scope of services include:
- Intravitreal injections
- Retinal laser photocoagulation
- Vitreoretinal surgery
- Vitrectomy
- Scleral buckle
- Pneumatic retinopexy
- Optical coherence tomography
- Fluorescein angiography
- Indocyanine green angiography
- Ultrasonography
Additionally, we offer treatment options and clinical research trials you won’t find anywhere else.
Book an Appointment Today
At Southeastern Retina Associates, we’re proud to be the practice other physicians and eye care professionals turn to for the most challenging retina problems. We are trusted by many of the region's finest hospitals including The University of Tennessee Medical Center, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and Erlanger-Miller Eye Center For more information or to book an appointment with one of our expert retina specialists, contact us today. We have convenient locations in Chattanooga, Knoxville, and the Tri-Cities area.