A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist who has completed additional fellowship training in diseases and surgery of the retina, macula, and vitreous. They diagnose and treat conditions like retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular hole, macular edema, retinal vein occlusion, and epiretinal membrane. They perform advanced surgeries including vitrectomy, scleral buckling, laser photocoagulation, and intravitreal injections.

Retinal detachment surgery cost in Mumbai ranges from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 depending on the type of procedure, complexity of the detachment, and whether gas or silicone oil is used. Scleral buckling costs Rs. 50,000-70,000, while vitrectomy with gas/silicone oil costs Rs. 60,000-1,00,000. Most health insurance plans cover retinal detachment surgery as it is considered a medical emergency. Cashless facility is available at Crystal Clear Eye and Topax Eye Care.

Yes, most retina surgeries are covered by health insurance in India as they are medically necessary procedures. Retinal detachment surgery, diabetic retinopathy treatment, macular hole surgery, and treatment for retinal vein occlusion are typically covered. Some insurers may have limits on anti-VEGF injections (4-6 per year). Cashless facility is available at Crystal Clear Eye and Topax Eye Care through major insurers including Star Health, ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz, HDFC Ergo, New India Assurance, and PSU insurance.

Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure where the vitreous gel inside the eye is removed and replaced with a saline solution, gas bubble, or silicone oil. It is performed to treat retinal detachment, macular hole, diabetic retinopathy complications, vitreous hemorrhage, epiretinal membrane, and severe eye trauma. The surgery is done through tiny incisions using microsurgical instruments and an operating microscope. It typically takes 1-2 hours and is performed under local or general anesthesia. Recovery takes 2-8 weeks depending on the complexity.

Retinal detachment is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY that requires immediate surgical treatment. If left untreated, it causes permanent vision loss within hours to days. Symptoms include sudden onset of floaters, flashes of light (photopsia), and a curtain or shadow spreading across your vision. The urgency depends on whether the macula (central retina) is detached - macula-on detachment must be repaired within 24-72 hours for best outcomes, while macula-off detachment should be treated within 1-2 weeks. If you experience these symptoms, contact Dr. Jignesh Gala immediately at 077188 85245 for emergency evaluation.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina. High blood sugar levels damage these vessels, causing them to leak fluid or bleed, leading to vision loss. There are two main stages: Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) - early stage with mild symptoms; and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) - advanced stage with abnormal blood vessel growth. Treatment options include laser photocoagulation (Green Laser/PASCAL), intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (Avastin, Accentrix, Razumab, Eylea), and vitrectomy surgery for advanced cases. Early detection through annual dilated eye exams is crucial.

Recovery after vitrectomy varies by procedure type. Week 1: Eye patch for first 24 hours, blurry vision normal, use prescribed eye drops, avoid rubbing the eye, maintain face-down positioning if gas was used. Week 2-4: Vision gradually improves, can resume light activities, avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting. Week 4-8: Vision continues to improve, most normal activities can resume. If gas was placed, you cannot fly until the gas resolves (2-8 weeks). If silicone oil was used, a second surgery is needed to remove it (usually 3-6 months later). Full visual recovery may take 3-6 months.

Anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) injections are medications injected into the eye (intravitreally) to treat conditions involving abnormal blood vessel growth or fluid leakage. Common anti-VEGF drugs include Bevacizumab (Avastin), Ranibizumab (Accentrix), and Aflibercept (Eylea). They are used to treat wet AMD, diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The injection is performed in the clinic under topical anesthesia, takes about 5 minutes, and is typically repeated monthly or as needed. Cost ranges from Rs. 8,000-25,000 per injection depending on the drug used.

Macular hole surgery involves a vitrectomy combined with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and injection of a gas bubble to close the hole in the macula (the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision). The surgery takes 1-2 hours under local anesthesia. Success rate is excellent - approximately 90-95% of Stage 2-3 macular holes close after one surgery. Post-operative face-down positioning for 3-7 days is crucial for success. Cost ranges from Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 75,000. Most insurance plans cover this procedure. Visual improvement continues for 3-6 months after surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy cannot be completely reversed, but its progression can be slowed significantly and vision can be preserved with timely treatment. Early-stage (mild NPDR) may only require blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol control with regular monitoring. Moderate to severe NPDR and PDR require active treatment with laser photocoagulation and/or anti-VEGF injections. Advanced cases with vitreous hemorrhage or tractional retinal detachment require vitrectomy surgery. The key is early detection through annual comprehensive dilated eye exams for all diabetics. Good glycemic control (HbA1c less than 7%) is the most important factor in preventing progression.

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to capture high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina. It is essential for retina diagnosis because it reveals detailed structural information that cannot be seen during a regular eye examination. OCT can detect macular edema, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, retinal thinning, fluid under the retina, and monitor treatment response. The test takes only 5-10 minutes, requires no preparation, and is completely painless. At Crystal Clear Eye and Topax Eye Care, we use advanced OCT technology for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Common symptoms of retinal diseases include: sudden or gradual onset of floaters (spots or cobwebs in vision), flashes of light (photopsia), blurred or distorted central vision (metamorphopsia), straight lines appearing wavy, a dark curtain or shadow over part of your visual field, sudden vision loss, difficulty reading or recognizing faces, and colors appearing faded. Any sudden change in vision is an emergency. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact Dr. Jignesh Gala immediately at 077188 85245 for urgent evaluation.

Scleral buckling is an external procedure where a silicone band is placed around the eye to indent the sclera (white of the eye) and push it toward the detached retina, supporting the retina while it heals. It is best for simple retinal detachments in younger patients with intact vitreous. Vitrectomy is an internal procedure where the vitreous gel is removed, the retina is reattached from inside the eye, and a gas bubble or silicone oil is used to hold the retina in place. Vitrectomy is preferred for complex detachments, large tears, diabetic tractional detachments, and in older patients. Sometimes both procedures are combined. Dr. Jignesh Gala will recommend the best approach based on your specific case.

Dr. Jignesh Gala is a triple board-certified eye surgeon (FRCS Glasgow, MRCS Edinburgh, FICO London) with dual fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery from the prestigious LV Prasad Eye Institute. With 12+ years of experience, 25,780+ surgeries, and 162,000+ patients treated, he is one of Mumbai's most experienced retina specialists. He offers comprehensive retina care including vitrectomy, scleral buckling, advanced laser treatments, and intravitreal injections at Crystal Clear Eye and Topax Eye Care. Both centres feature state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including OCT, FFA, and B-Scan. Cashless insurance facility is available. Emergency retina services are provided with 24/7 availability for urgent cases.

Pneumatic retinopexy is an office-based procedure for select cases of retinal detachment. A gas bubble is injected into the eye, and laser or cryotherapy is applied to seal the retinal tear. The patient must maintain a specific head position for several days to allow the gas bubble to push the retina back into place. It is suitable for simple retinal detachments with a single small tear in the upper part of the retina. Advantages include avoiding major surgery, lower cost (Rs. 15,000-25,000), and faster recovery. However, it has a slightly lower success rate (80-90%) compared to scleral buckling or vitrectomy, and may require conversion to surgery if unsuccessful.

All diabetics should have a comprehensive dilated retinal examination at least once a year, even if they have no vision problems. Those with existing diabetic retinopathy may need examinations every 3-6 months depending on severity. Type 1 diabetics should start annual screening within 5 years of diagnosis. Type 2 diabetics should be screened at the time of diagnosis. Pregnant women with diabetes need screening in the first trimester and every trimester thereafter. Early detection is critical because diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early stages when treatment is most effective. Call 077188 85245 to schedule your diabetic eye check-up.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye condition affecting the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. Dry AMD (atrophic) is the more common form where the macula thins gradually. Wet AMD (neovascular) is more severe, characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina causing leakage and scarring. Wet AMD is treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (Avastin, Accentrix, Eylea) which can stabilize and sometimes improve vision. Dry AMD has no cure but progression can be slowed with antioxidant supplements and lifestyle changes. Regular monitoring with OCT is essential.

Face-down positioning is required after certain retina surgeries (macular hole repair, retinal detachment with gas bubble) to ensure the gas bubble inside the eye presses against the healing retina or macular hole. The positioning maintains the bubble in the correct position, promoting proper healing and closure. Typically required for 3-7 days (up to 2 weeks in some cases), for 50 minutes of every hour, including during sleep. Special face-down chairs, pillows, and mirrors are available to make this more comfortable. The gas bubble gradually absorbs on its own over 2-8 weeks. During this period, you cannot fly in an airplane or receive anesthesia using nitrous oxide.

A barrage laser (laser retinopexy) is a preventive laser treatment used to seal retinal holes, tears, or areas of thinning (lattice degeneration) to prevent retinal detachment. The laser creates tiny burns around the weak area, forming scar tissue that welds the retina to the underlying tissue. It is an outpatient procedure performed in the clinic, takes 10-20 minutes per eye, and requires only topical anesthesia (numbing eye drops). Patients can resume normal activities immediately. Cost ranges from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 15,000 per eye. It is highly effective in preventing retinal detachment in at-risk eyes. If you have high myopia or a family history of retinal detachment, ask about preventive laser barrage.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants born before 31 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 1500 grams. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow and spread throughout the retina. ROP is screened in all at-risk premature babies before discharge from the NICU and at regular intervals thereafter. Treatment options include laser photocoagulation (Rs. 15,000-25,000 per session), cryotherapy, and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. Early screening and timely treatment can prevent blindness in most cases. Dr. Jignesh Gala provides specialized pediatric retina services including ROP screening and treatment at Crystal Clear Eye.