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RETINAL TEARS: Ophthalmologists at Hotel Dieu Hospital are on the leading edge of technology when it comes to looking after your eyes.

November 24, 2009

WITH THE DETAILS, HERE'S NEWSWATCH'S STU HAY.

EYE DOCTORS AT HOTEL DIEU HOSPITAL ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM BELLS.

AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY.

IT'S CALLED A "FLOATER."

IT APPEARS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS FLOATING AROUND IN YOUR EYE, PARTIALLY BLOCKING YOUR VISION.

SANJAY SHARMA

"THE REASON THAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THE JELLY SHIFTS INSIDE THE EYE AND WHEN LIGHT COMES IN IT BOUNCES OFF OF THAT AND LEAVES A LITTLE SHADOW ON THE RETINA.

AND YOUR BRAIN INTERPRETS THAT AS A LITTLE FLOATER.'

THEY'RE A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ON AN OVERCAST DAY OR WHEN LOOKING AT A BRIGHT WHITE OBJECT.

BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS ON A LARGER SCALE, SOMETIMES RESEMBLING A SPIDER'S WEB, OR INCLUDES A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT, IT COULD BE THE WARNING SIGNS OF A RETINAL TEAR.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED BY A DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY.

SANJAY

"A RETINAL TEAR IS A SMALL HOLE IN THE RETINA.

AND THE PROBLEM IS FLUID CAN GET UNDER IT AND CAUSE A RETINAL DETACHMENT.

AND A RETINAL DETACHMENT IS A POTENTIALLY BLINDING SITUATION IF NOT TREATED URGENTLY."

THE CONDITION IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE.

BUT SHARMA SAYS OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK, HE'LL USUALLY TREAT 2 OR 3 PATIENTS IN THE 20'S.

AND FOR ALL AGES -- THE FIX IS SIMPLE.

DONE ON A WALK IN BASIS AT THE HOTEL DIEU EYE CLINIC, USING A LASER.

SHARMA

"IT'S LIKE SERIES OF BRIGHT FLASHES OF LIGHT.

IT LASTS 3 TO 5 MINUTES AND THEN YOU ARE OUT THE DOOR."

BUT IT MUST BE CAUGHT IN TIME.

AND YOU WILL NEED A REFERRAL FROM YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR.

THE TRICK, SAYS SHARMA, IS KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMETHING THAT ISN'T SERIOUS AND SOMETHING THAT IS.

SHARMA

"WHILE WE ALL MAY HAVE A FEW FLOATERS, IF YOU EVER DEVELOP A BRAND NEW ONE, A SHOWER OF MANY FLOATERS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY."

OTHERWISE SHARMA SAYS, YOU COULD BE LEFT IN THE DARK.

STU HAY CKWS NEWSWATCH KINGSTON.

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AT HOTEL DIEU HOSPITAL ARE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AFTER YOUR EYES.

AND TODAY, THEY HAVE PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE IN "THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION" THAT COULD LEAD TO BETTER VISION FOR MILLIONS OF NORTH AMERICANS.

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