The eye care professionals in the retina and vitreoretinal service department at the UPMC Vision Institute treat disorders related to the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissues at the back of the inner eye), the vitreous (a gel-like substance connected to the retina and the eye’s lens), and the macula (located in the middle of the retina that is responsible for central vision). Problems with any of these parts of the eye can cause different levels of vision loss, including blindness.
UPMC Vision Institute physicians use state-of-the-art diagnostics and the latest procedures to treat a variety of disorders such as retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis.
Meet our Retina Service team.
Learn more about Retinal Detachment Surgery and what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
View the Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh's Retina webinars and Age-Related Macular Degeneration webinars.
The Vision Institute's StreetLab aims to enhance the quality of life of people with low vision by improving their function, promoting their independence, and promoting their productivity in society.
Rakié Cham, PhD, researcher and full professor in the Departments of Bioengineering, Ophthalmology, and Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh, co-leads the StreetLab with Dr. Sahel.
The StreetLab boasts a multidisciplinary team of low vision experts, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and rehabilitation experts, human factors, biomedical engineers, neurologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Psychiatrists are involved because often, people with low vision have a higher increased risk for mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Neuroscientists are interested in what is happening in the brain because there is a lot of adaptation to vision loss – including structural and functional brain changes, which may impact other functions, e.g., balance and mobility.