August 23, 2024 – Floaters are a common vision complaint of people young and old. Recent R & D has identified the causes and developed new diagnostic approaches for clinical evaluation. These improvements have facilitated medical decision-making enabling treatments that improve vision. This interview discusses the current management of floaters, both diagnostic and therapeutic.
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On July 9, 1945 there was a solar eclipse visible in Europe. Shortly thereafter, Professor Meyer-Schwickerath of Germany (https://retinahistory.asrs.org/retina-pioneers/gerhard-meyer-schwickerath-md) noted that some patients had retinal scars he identified as due to solar burns. This led him to develop treatments that harness the energy of the sun for eye surgery, which ultimately led to the implementation of lasers in ophthalmic surgery, garnering him 3 nominations for the Nobel Prize. In further recognition, the German Society of Ophthalmic Surgery (DOC) named an annual lecture in his honor.
On June 17, 2023, Dr. Sebag delivered the Meyer-Schwickerath Lecture at the 35th International Congress of the DOC held in Nuremberg (https://www.doc-nuernberg.de/meyer-schwickerath-lecture.php?fksart=0&topic=Meyer-Schwickerath+Lecture), attended by over 6,000 participants. Entitled “Vitreous and the Lens – a tale of two media”, this prestigious lecture discussed how principles of ocular physiology can be used to modify vitrectomy surgery and lessen the development of cataracts.
Dr. Gui gave a presentation providing pre-meds an opportunity to learn more about ophthalmology as a specialty and retina as a subspecialty. He discussed his own path to ophthalmology and retina, as well as some patient case studies, and additional words of advice. Dr. Gui’s hope was to give pre-meds insight into the practice of ophthalmology and retina based on his own experiences and perspective.
Multi-focal intraocular lens implantation is an increasingly popular way to restore vision after cataract surgery. There are, however, unhappy patients who experience degradation in contrast sensitivity function, believed to be due to the implant. If such patients also have vitreous opacities causing floaters, there is further degradation in contrast sensitivity. This study of 180 subjects found additive effects of vitreous opacification multi-focal implants, which can be significantly improved by eliminating the vitreous opacities with limited vitrectomy.
On Sep 12, 2021 this invited lecture was presented to the European Society of Retinal Specialists (EURETINA) on the subject of vitreous, the gelatinous structure that fills the center of the eye. During aging, vitreous gel liquefies (accelerated in myopia) and eventually collapses and pulls away from the retina, an event called Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). Anomalous PVD can feature splitting between the lamellae of the peripheral vitreous, causing vitreoschisis. This lecture describes how vitreoschisis can promote recurrent retinal detachment via the action of cells embedded in the outer vitreous, called hyalocytes.
On September 30, 2021 this invited lecture was presented at the annual meeting of the D.O.G. on the subject of the innate cells of the vitreous body, called hyalocytes. In health, these cells play an important role in immunology of the eye. In disease, hyalocytes are important in proliferative vitreo-retinal pathologies such macular pucker, recurrent retinal detachment due to proliferative vitreo-retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Sebag Delivers the Inaugural Robert Machemer Keynote Lecture to the European Society of Ophthalmology in 2019.
In an interview following the Machemer lecture, Dr. Sebag shared some thoughts for young Ophthalmologists.
Dr. Sebag discusses the merits of Vitrectomy (minimally invasive) surgery for curing eye floaters. He discusses new developments in testing to find vitrectomy candidates, as well as what makes this new kind of vitrectomy better than any other floaters treatment.
News segment featuring Dr. Sebag discussing his research regarding using laser-based nanotechnologies to explore the human eye.
Dr. Sebag answers questions about vitrectomy for floaters (floaters cure).
