Patient Services and Education
Medically reviewed by Thomas Shane, M.D., Retina Specialist – Last updated June 1, 2026
About Our Patient Education and Services
Shane Retina is a vitreoretinal medical and surgical practice. Our retinal associates are committed to improving the retina and macular degeneration knowledge and overall retinal health of our community. Dr. Shane and our staff are committed to bringing the most modern and effective methods to treating any retinal condition.
Our Retina Associates offer a variety of retina and macular degeneration treatments for these conditions:
Click on a link below to jump to that section.
- Macular Degeneration
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Floaters and Flashes
- Retinal Detachment/Tear
- Dislocated Intraocular Lens
- Macular Edema
- Macular Holes
- Macular Pucker / Epiretinal Membrane (ERM)
- Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)
- Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO)
- Surgical Services
- Exams, Imaging & Diagnostics
- Additional Resources
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in patients over 65. Risk factors for central vision loss include smoking and family history. Treatment can greatly reduce the risk for blindness from AMD.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes causes blood vessel damage in the retina over time. As diabetic retinopathy progresses, blood flow to the retina is reduced, swelling distorts the central vision, and bleeding in the eye may block the vision altogether. In addition to blood sugar control, eye injections and the laser will help to slow and reverse vision loss.
Floaters and Flashes
New floaters and flashes are a common and potentially dangerous development that may indicate that a retinal tear or detachment has occurred. A dilated eye exam is important for anyone newly experiencing these symptoms. Patients experiencing chronic, distracting floaters have options for removing them, including painless laser and surgical procedures.
Retinal Detachment/Tear
Sudden onset of floaters or vision loss in one eye can be a scary experience. Retinal tears and detachments can suddenly happen to anyone and require timely diagnosis and management with a retina specialist. Treatment options for retinal tears or detachments include laser or surgery.
Dislocated Intraocular Lens
Occasionally, a cataract lens implant shifts or dislocates from its intended position in the eye. When this occurs, a patient may experience glare, a ghost image, or sudden blurriness in one eye. There are many options for restoring vision after an intraocular lens implant becomes dislocated, typically requiring surgery to restore the lens position behind the pupil.
Macular Edema (CME)
Swelling of the central retina is called macular edema. There are many causes for macular edema, including cataract surgery and inflammation in the eye (uveitis). Through careful history, dilated examination, and testing, a retina specialist can determine the appropriate cause and treatment for macular edema, which may include drops or eye injections.
Macular Holes
Do you have a painless blind spot or distortion in the central vision of one eye? A dilated eye exam with specialized retinal imaging may reveal a macular hole. This spontaneous development often requires surgery to close the hole and restore central vision.
Macular Pucker/Epiretinal Membrane (ERM)
An epiretinal membrane is a common eye condition affecting patients over the age of 50. It occurs when a layer of scar tissue forms spontaneously in the center of the retina, causing wrinkles in the normally smooth macular surface. Patients experiencing a significant distortion in their central vision can be cured with surgical membrane peeling by an ophthalmologist fellowship-trained in vitreoretinal surgery.
Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)
Blood flow to the eye is supplied by a network of arteries and veins. Sometimes due to cardiovascular changes, a retinal vein can develop a blockage, causing blood to back up and spill into the retina. This ‘occlusion’ leads to chronic swelling and blurriness in the center of the vision. With eye injection treatment, most vision loss from retinal vein occlusion can be reversed.
Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO)
When a blockage of blood flow occurs in a retinal artery, the vision downstream of the blockage is immediately lost. Causes for retinal artery occlusion include an embolus from the heart or carotid arteries and inflammation in the retinal vessels. This is a medical emergency, as it can lead to permanent blindness or stroke in the brain.
Patient Testimonial
Surgical Services at Shane Retina
Sometimes, retinal and macular degeneration conditions are severe enough that surgery may be necessary. In these cases, there are few doctors more qualified to operate than Dr. Shane.
Surgical procedures available at Shane Retina include:
Intravitreal Injection
The thought of an injection in the eye can be scary, but this procedure is critical in the fight against blinding retinal conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion. Thanks to antibacterial and anesthetic drops, eye injections are one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent blindness.
Retinal Laser
Retinal laser is a non-invasive clinical procedure that is effective in the treatment of retinal tears, retinal detachments, and diabetic retinopathy.
Lensectomy
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgeries in America. However, occasionally some pieces of the cataract fall into the back of the eye and must be retrieved by a retinal surgeon using a vitrectomy.
Vitrectomy
A mainstay of retinal surgery, vitrectomy involves the removal of the vitreous jelly that fills the eye. Vitrectomy allows retinal surgeons to directly manipulate the retina and other inner eye structures to treat retinal detachments, epiretinal membranes, macular holes, dislocated lens implants, and floaters. Vitrectomy is done painlessly through tiny incisions under local anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center.
Scleral Buckle
Scleral buckling is one of the original and most effective methods for repairing a retinal detachment. The surgery involves the placement of a silicone band around the equator of the eye, essentially squeezing the eyewall towards the detached retina. Advantages of a scleral buckle include avoidance of cataracts and enhanced protection from re-detachment.
Pneumatic Retinopexy
Many retinal detachments can be effectively treated in the clinic using a gas bubble injected into the eye, a procedure called pneumatic retinopexy. After the bubble flattens the retinal detachment, laser or freezing treatment is applied to permanently seal the underlying retinal tear. Patients who undergo successful pneumatic retinopexy frequently achieve faster recovery of vision and better visual outcomes than those who undergo surgical repair.
Scleral Fixation of Intraocular Lens Implant
Occasionally, a cataract lens implant shifts or dislocates out of position. In this situation, suturing a new lens implant into the eye is the best way to restore vision and normal eye anatomy.
*Some retinal procedures (intravitreal injection and retinal laser) are performed in the office at the time of your exam. Outpatient surgery is conducted at the Bayview Surgery Center, Surgery Center at St. Andrews, or at Manatee or Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
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Exams, Imaging & Diagnostic services available at Shane Retina include:
Dilated Retinal Exam
A dilated retinal exam is a comprehensive evaluation of the retina, macula, optic nerve, and blood vessels at the back of the eye. Eye drops are used to widen the pupils, allowing your retina specialist to examine the back of the eye in detail using specialized lights and imaging. A dilated retinal exam is the foundation of retina care and is used to detect conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, and retinal detachment, often before they cause noticeable symptoms.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) uses infrared light to image the central part of the retina called the macula. These images represent a virtual cross-section of the retina, allowing the ophthalmologist to see microscopic details of the macula. OCT is useful for diagnosing, treating, and following several retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and macular holes and macular pucker.
Ocular Ultrasound
Ocular ultrasound is a non-invasive test that uses ultrasound waves to create an image of the structures inside the eye. It is useful in cases where your ophthalmologist does not have a clear view of the retina. (such as with a dense cataract or hemorrhage in the eye). In addition, ocular ultrasound allows for the diagnosis and measurement of any structures or masses within the eye.
Fluorescein Angiography
Fluorescein angiography is a series of real-time photographs of fluorescein dye as it circulates through the blood vessels in your retina. This test can highlight abnormalities in the blood vessels of the retina, which can occur in several retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion.
Retinal Photography
Retinal photography may be helpful in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of retinal conditions, such as choroidal nevus (eye freckle) and age-related macular degeneration.
Additional Education from Shane Retina
Here are some more retina articles by Dr. Shane that you can read to learn more about age-related macular degeneration and other retinal conditions.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment in Sarasota, FL, contact us today!
Dr. Shane is committed to bringing the most modern and effective methods to treating any retinal condition.