foveal schisis expert

[Jeansie]

First I was diagnosed with epi-retinal membrane.  On next visit to local retina specialist, after more pictures of eye, he said foveal schisis.  At 3rd visit, more pictures closer to the nerve and at a different angle, now he says the bubble surgery might not help and maybe I want to get a second opinion.  Since most of the work on this  condition has been done in Japan, I am looking for an expert here in the U.S.  He suggested going to New York City, but I live in Michigan.  I will gladly go to another state if anyone can tell me who is the best person to see.  Any suggestion?

[Jeansie]

I've been seeing a local retina specialist and he originally wanted to do the surgery, but after more pictures he has come to the conclusion (maybe because of the unusual angle that the veins/blood vessels are growing or something about the fluid being under the nerve) that the surgery might not help and that I should seek out someone who is more familiar.  He tried giving me a shot in the eye (Triesence) but it didn't help at all.  The first ophthalmologist I went to see looked in my eyes, declared that I had cataracts, and wanted to schedule me for cataract surgery right away.  It was only after I went to get a second opinion that I found out that cataracts were not the problem.  I would really like to find an expert.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You need to find a retinal specialist in your area.  Please get a recommendation from you ophthalmologist.  This surgery is basically the same as for an ERM or macular hole so most retinal surgeon should be able to do it.

Dr. O.