Angioid Streaks Treatment: Protecting Your Vision with Expert Retinal Care
Your retina plays a vital role in how you see the world, and even subtle changes can have a lasting impact on your vision. Angioid streaks are one such condition, often discovered during a routine eye exam but capable of leading to serious complications if left unmanaged. At Retina Consultants, P.C., patients enjoy advanced retinal care from nationally recognized retina experts dedicated to preserving and protecting vision. With five convenient locations in Connecticut, we offer diagnosis and treatment for angioid streaks and other retinal conditions.
What are angioid streaks?
Angioid streaks are irregular, crack-like lines that appear underneath the retina. They occur when the tissue beneath the retina (Bruch’s membrane) becomes brittle and develops breaks, which can extend outward from the optic nerve. Sometimes, angioid streaks can be caused by eye injuries or connective tissue diseases.
Angioid streaks appear as blood vessels in the retina but cannot be seen with the naked eye. While angioid streaks themselves may not immediately affect your vision, they can increase the risk of complications such as choroidal neovascularization (abnormal blood vessel growth).
Who is at risk of angioid streaks?
Several health conditions can put you at risk of angioid streaks.
- Pseudoxanthoma elasticum: This inherited disease causes mineral buildup that weakens the elastic fibers in Bruch’s membrane, leading to cracks that appear as angioid streaks.
- Ehler-Danlos syndrome: This genetic disease weakens your body’s connective tissue, making retinal support structures more fragile and prone to developing angioid streaks.
- Paget’s disease of the bone: It’s a chronic bone disorder that results in excessive breakdown and regrowth of affected bone. It’s been linked to changes in Bruch’s membrane associated with angioid streaks.
- Sickle cell disease: Abnormal blood flow and repeated vascular stress can damage retinal structures.
- Idiopathic causes: In some cases, angioid streaks develop without a known underlying condition, likely due to spontaneous degeneration of retinal support layers.
How do you diagnose angioid streaks?
Angioid streaks rarely cause symptoms. However, their complications, including choroidal neovascularization and subretinal hemorrhage, can cause vision loss. Early detection and ongoing monitoring are key to managing angioid streaks. At Retina Consultants, P.C., we use advanced diagnostic imaging technology to examine the retina for conditions such as angioid streaks.
- Fluorescein angiography: Your retina specialist uses special dye to make the blood vessels in the retina more visible.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): OCTs provide high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina.
Advanced diagnostics allow our retina specialists to examine the retina and detect even subtle changes closely.
What are the treatment options for angioid streaks?
Asymptomatic patients do not require immediate treatment. Instead, your retinal specialist will closely monitor your condition over time to detect any changes early and recommend treatment if needed.
Treatment is always necessary to address complications associated with angioid streaks. If abnormal blood vessels develop, treatments such as anti-VEGF injections can help control their growth and reduce the risk of vision loss. These treatments are highly effective and are often administered in-office with minimal downtime. Your eye doctor may also combine intraocular injections with photodynamic therapy to improve outcomes in neovascularization.
Trust Your Vision to Experts
Have you been diagnosed with angioid streaks? Or perhaps you are experiencing changes in your vision? Advanced retinal care at Retina Consultants, P.C. can make all the difference. With a commitment to excellence, our six retinal specialists can address complex and non-complex retinal conditions with precision and care.
To get started, contact us at:
Hartford
Manchester
Cromwell
Farmington
