Adam Hochron

It was supposed to be just a one year sabbatical for Howard Schatz to take a break from his work as a retina specialist and enjoy what had become a growing hobby of photography. More than two decades later Schatz said he misses some parts of practice but is greatly enjoying what has become a second career.

The discussion of intravitreal injections may not be an easy one for doctors to have with their patients, but when the full treatment picture is explained it can show how the benefits outweigh other potential issues.

Patients diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusions may not like having intravitreal injections but research is being done to see if the frequency of the injections can be reduced over time.

There are many areas of medicine where treatments are being combined in hopes of finding better outcomes for patients. Early studies are being done to see if a new combination can help patients with certain eye conditions.

A recent study showed that OCT angiography can help predict whether patients will respond to treatment for diabetic macular edema. While the technology is not available everywhere and can be expensive the results can save patients and doctors time and money in the long run.

While Anti-VEGF medications can be an effective treatment for patients with diabetic macular edema many will not respond to it making steroids the preferred method for care.

With medical equipment being universal in operating rooms everywhere having the tools personalized for surgeons could be somewhat of an uphill battle depending on how popular the idea becomes.

While surgeons across the globe have become used to performing procedures with the same equipment as their colleagues there could be some benefit to having tools specifically designed for their individual preferences.

In an age where personalization is a key selling point for many items research is being done as to whether this could apply to equipment eye surgeons use in the operating room.

For patients with retinitis pigmentosa the loss of vision can be a difficult consequence of the condition. An implanted device may not give them back the sight they once had but it can provide a chance to see the world around them in a new way.

Doctors treating patients with age-related macular degeneration face a wide range of complications including the potential dosage for anti-VEGF medications. One question is what role these drugs play in macular atrophy.

As technology improves across the medical spectrum new devices, including implants, are providing help for patients who just a few years ago may not have had any treatment options available.

As new treatments and procedures are developed in the field of retinal medicine the American Society of Retina Specialists is launching its own journal to help its members and others in the field advance patient care.

For those doctors who go through the extended training to be certified retina specialists there is a wealth of knowledge to learn in order to provide the best care for patients.

As more is learned from the battlefield about limb salvage and prosthetics those lessons can be applied in civilian care. This is particularly true for conditions like peripheral artery disease.

If peripheral artery disease is not caught soon enough patients risk losing toes, feet, or legs to amputation. Going from the beginning of the treatment process through potential amputation is a delicate balancing act for doctors.

Diagnosing peripheral artery disease can be a simple process if doctors know what they are looking for and patients follow medical directions.

Patients who suffer spinal cord injuries are getting better help with their condition than they did just a few years ago but there is much more work to be done in this field.

When patients need delicate spinal procedures finding the newest technologies and techniques can help not only in the operating room but also following discharge.

In addition to new medications there are new devices and procedures constantly being developed to help patients across a broad spectrum of conditions. Data from these trials can determine how helpful they are for patients and what their future usage will be.

There are many patients around the world suffering from various degrees of heart failure. With such potentially fatal consequences there has been a push to make the condition only treated by specialists.

As newer medications are developed for various conditions there can be a rush to prescribe them for patients. However, various factors including cost can make these prohibitive options for doctors and patients alike.

As transcatheter aortic valve replacement (or TAVR) becomes more common, more work is being done to help patients undergoing this procedure.

Even the newest OBGYN should be able to identify polycystic ovarian syndrome though it may require a specialist to effectively treat the condition. Work is also being done to help the partners of patients better understand its impact in daily lives and fertility.

One of the best things patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome can do to help their chances of conceiving a baby is weight loss. For some the prospect of being a parent is enough to lose the weight needed to become a pregnant.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome may not be a new condition for doctors to treat but there is constant work being done to find new treatment methods. For many patients the best course of treatment may be weight loss.

By the time many patients are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer their chances of survival are greatly diminished More work is being done to help patients find the condition early in hopes of improving their quality of life.

While researchers looking for a more effective treatment for pancreatic cancer await their breakthrough moment even slow progress is an accomplishment in working toward their ultimate goal.

While a considerable amount of progress has been made in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer the field of pancreatic cancer has not seen as much success in helping this patient population.

The treatment of HIV has improved by leaps and bounds since its first diagnosis but there is still much more work to be done.