VMR Institute - Laser Therapy & Surgery of Vitreous, Macula & Retina
Technology
Font Size:

Advanced Technology to Diagnose and Treat Vision Loss and Blindness Available in Huntington Beach, near Los Angeles

Leading the way in technology for vision loss and blindness, the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach near Los Angeles is known for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. This includes state-of-the-art digital imaging for retinal and choroidal angiography, digital ultrasonography,  and combined optical coherence tomography - scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. 

Our in-office multi-wavelength laser surgery is unique in our area. Dr. Sebag and Dr. Chong have been leaders in vitreous, macula, and retina laser therapy and surgery for many years. This technology is offered at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach as part of our ongoing commitment to provide our patients with the latest and most modern and effective treatments in laser eye surgery. In recognition of this, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has asked Dr. Sebag to teach other doctors laser surgery at a regional course held in Palm Springs. While at USC, Dr. Chong taught an entire generation of eye surgeons to perform laser eye surgery.

These diagnostic and therapeutic technologies are offered at the VMR Institute as part of our ongoing commitment to provide our patients with the latest and most modern and effective treatments in laser eye surgery. In recognition of this, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has asked Dr. Sebag to teach laser surgery at a regional update course held in Palm Springs.  While at USC, Dr. Chong taught an entire generation of eye surgeons to perform laser eye surgery.

Additional technologies used at the VMR Institute include:

DIAGNOSTICS:

Digital Fundus Photography (2 cameras): to detect diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and disorders of the macula and retinal vasculature.

Digital Fluorescein Angiography (2cameras): to enable accurate diagnosis and determine if laser surgery or drug injections can help diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other retinal disorders.

Digital Ophthalmic Ultrasonography (2 systems): to evaluate floaters, retinal detachments, tumors, intraocular foreign bodies, and trauma.

Combined Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) - Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (SLO): - The VMR Institute was among the first centers in the world to use this new imaging technology that provides much greater detail than ever before.

Several important discoveries have recently been made using this new imaging technology: 

Sebag J, Gupta P, Rosen R, Garcia P, Sadun AA: Macular holes and macular pucker: The role of vitreoschisis as imaged by optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 105:121-131, 2007.

Gupta P, Sadun AA, Sebag J: Multifocal retinal contraction in macular pucker analyzed by combined optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Retina 28:447-452, 2008.

Wang MY, Nguyen D, Hindoyan N, Sadun AA, Sebag J: Vitreo-papillary adhesion in macular hole and macular pucker. Retina 29:644-50, 2009

Gupta P, Yee KM, Garcia P, Rosen RB, Parikh J, Hageman GS, Sadun AA, Sebag J. Vitreoschisis in macular diseases. Br J Ophthalmol. 2011 Mar;95(3):376-80. Epub 2010 Jun 28

back to top

THERAPEUTICS:

Drug Therapy: New treatments are available onsite at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach Orange County near Los Angeles for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions. The VMR Institute has recently participated in 4 separate national, multi-center clinical trials in these conditions, and our experience exceeds that of anyone in the community.

Multi-Wavelength Laser: The advanced technology available at the VMR Institute employs solid-state laser technology to treat diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal holes/tears, and retinal vein occlusions.

Cryotherapy:  Non-invasive retinal cryotherapy is available on-site at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach Orange County near Los Angeles to treat retinal holes/tears and neovascular glaucoma.

Microsurgery: Sutureless microsurgery is an area of expertise at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach. This advanced form of therapy is new and in comparison to the older method (still practiced by many other doctors in the area) decreases operating time and increases the speed of vision recovery with less time off work. In 2008 Dr. Sebag established a state-of-the-art vitreo-retinal microsurgery service at the Newport Bay Surgery Center in Newport Beach Orange County near Los Angeles.

In-Office repair of Retinal Detachments: Dr. Sebag and Dr. Chong have vast expertise in treating retinal detachments in the office, without the need for hospitalization. Their excellent results have been presented at national and international meetings and the results have been published in the professional literature.

Drug-Enhanced Vitreous Surgery: The surgical removal of vitreous is often necessary during surgery for complex diseases of the inside of the eye. The VMR Institute in Huntington Beach Orange County near Los Angeles has participated in six national and international clinical trials to improve this surgery using novel drug therapy.  Dr. Sebag has published several articles on this topic:

 

back to top

FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

Computer-Generated 3-Dimensional Threshold Amsler Grid Testing: In collaboration with Alfredo Sadun, MD, PhD (Vice-Chair of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute of USC) and Wolfgang Fink, PhD (Caltech and the University of Arizona) research is being conducted at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beah Orange County near Los Angeles that will improve the ability to detect diseases such as as macular degeneration in its early stages. This work has recently been presented at the pre-eminent eye research meeting in the world (ARVO) and has been published in the international literature:

Presentations:

Robison CD, Jivraka RV, Bsababegy SR, Fink W, Sadun AA, Sebag J: Distinguishing dry vs. wet AMD With 3-D computer-automated threshold Amsler grid test. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci (ARVO) 2009 50:E-abstract 257.

Wang MY, CuzzoLM, Robison CD, Niemeyer M, Nguyen DT, Fink W, Sadun AA, Sebag J: Quantifying the Effects of Macular Pucker Vitrectomy Surgery on Macular Structure and Function. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2010 (ARVO)

Robison C, Wang MY, Cuzzo LM, Niemeyer M, Fink W, Sadun AA, Sebag J: Quantitative Correlation of Macular Structure (OCT-SLO) with Function using 3-D Computerized Threshold Amsler Grid in Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Macular Pucker. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2010 (ARVO)

Publications:

Jivrajka R V, Kim J K, Fink W, Sadun AA, Sebag J: Quantitative analysis of central visual field defects in macular edema using three-dimensional computer-automated threshold Amsler grid testing. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 247:165-70, 2009.

FROM SPACE TO EARTH – The transfer of NASA technology to Ophthalmology

In collaboration with scientists at NASA and USC, Dr. Sebag and Dr. Chong conduct pioneering research in the development of future ophthalmic technologies, both diagnostic and therapeutic.

For additional information on our treatments for medical conditions associated with vision loss and blindness, contact our Huntington Beach office. We also welcome Los Angeles and Orange County residents.

 

back to top

Questions? Contact Us: (714) 901-7777

Click below to learn more about groundbreaking treatments for vision loss and blindness at our Huntington Beach office. A member of the VMR team will be in touch with you shortly.

Office Location

VMR Institute

7677 Center Avenue,
Suite 400
Huntington Beach, CA 92647