Retina Care and Research

Retina Care and Research (RCR): Education and Information for Oregon and Oregonians about Retina conditions and Retina care and Retina Research.RCR offers quality information you can count on from experts you can trust.

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Information

Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. There are two main types of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD.The macula is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. In dry AMD, the macula slowly deteriorates over time as parts of it break down. Tiny deposits of protein and fat accumulate in the macula, known as drusen. Despite this, dry AMD does not usually cause severely impaired vision unless it becomes advanced (which is called geographic atrophy). There are treatments for advanced dry AMD. Also AREDS2 dietary supplements slow the progression of intermediate dry AMD.Wet AMD, on the other hand, causes vision loss more rapidly. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and macula. These vessels are fragile and they leak blood and fluid into the macula, causing distortion and blurred vision. The growth of these abnormal blood vessels, known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV), can often be treated to prevent further vision loss. Treatments for wet AMD commonly involve injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF medications into the eye to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels.Without treatment, vision loss caused by wet AMD can be severe and may occur quickly within days or weeks. Therefore, wet AMD typically results in significantly more vision loss than dry AMD. However, with early detection and treatment such as anti-VEGF injections, severe vision loss can often be prevented or limited. Although anti-VEGF treatments may stabilize vision, they often require ongoing monitoring and eye injections to control the wet AMD.While there is currently no cure for either form of AMD, there are treatments available for both wet and dry AMD to potentially prevent or slow severe vision loss if detected and treated early.Managing AMD through regular eye exams, dietary changes, and vision aids can help maximize remaining vision.

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The Doctor

Peter A. Karth, MD, MBA, FASRS

Peter A. Karth, MD, MBA, FASRS is a retina specialist and specializes in the treatment and management of vitreous and retinal disorders.Dr. Peter Karth performs surgery and medical care of all vitreous and retinal conditions.Dr. Peter Karth and his care team provide cutting-edge patient care and an unrivaled patient experience in the diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye disease, retinal vascular occlusions, and all retinal disorders in their clinic.Dr. Peter Karth's surgical focus is minimally invasive small incision sutureless and painless retinal surgery for delicate retinal pathologies such as symptomatic vitreous opacities, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, macular pucker, as well as complex retinal detachments and surgical diabetic disease.Dr. Peter Karth has published many peer reviewed research articles and has been invited to write for the popular press.Dr. Peter Karth is involved with clinical research regarding retina conditions and is happy to offer clinical trial participation to patients who may wish to participate.Visit Dr. Peter A. Karth's website for more information.

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Contact

At Retina Care and Research, we want to hear from you.Please contact us with questions about retina care in Oregon.