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WHAT IS A RETINA SPECIALIST?
A retina specialist is a medical doctor with specialized training as an ophthalmologist, followed by fellowship training in diseases and surgery of the vitreous and retina.
As the retina is critical for vision, it is often affected by eye diseases causing vision loss. Additionally, localized eye disorders and systemic conditions like diabetes and hypertension can impact the retina.
A retina specialist plays a crucial role in diagnosing and understanding the extent of retinal issues, creating personalized and effective treatment plans to manage the condition and preserve vision.
About Your Retina Specialist: Rashmi Kapur, MD
Dr.Kapur has been practicing as a full-time Retina Specialist in the Elgin area since 2011 and has tremendous experience with treating a variety of retinal pathologies.
Dr.Kapur received her medical degree from Santosh Medical College (Meerut University), completed her residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois - Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary in Chicago, IL, and her fellowship in vitreoretinal medicine and surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of several academic and professional societies.
Dr. Kapur's work and research can be found published in her credit in various works. Her areas of expertise include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, macular disease, uveitis, ocular oncology, etc. Dr.Kapur is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
About Your Retina Specialist: Rehan Hussain, MD
Dr. Rehan Hussain was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs. After graduating with the Valedictorian award from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, he entered an accelerated 7-year BA/MD program at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. While there, he was part of the University Honors Program and was selected into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. During medical school at GW, he was selected as a member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Dr. Hussain completed his ophthalmology residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he was chosen by his peers to serve as Chief Resident and won the Merril Grayson Leadership Award. He completed a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which has been consistently recognized as the nation’s #1 ranked eye hospital over the past three decades.
Dr. Hussain is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, and the Vit-Buckle Society. He has presented retina-related research and surgical videos at numerous national meetings. He has authored over 70 publications in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks pertaining to ophthalmology and retinal disease.
In his spare time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, weight training, and cheering for the Chicago Bears and Bulls. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
What Your Retina Specialist Looks At:
The Retina
The retina, the innermost layer of the eyeball, is a remarkable and delicate structure that is highly sensitive to light. Comprised of several intricate microscopic cell layers, it plays a crucial role in our vision.
The retina acts as a sophisticated converter, transforming visual inputs into nerve signals and relaying them to the brain through the optic nerve. This intricate process is essential for image perception, making the retina a vital component of our visual system.
The Macula
The macula, a tiny area in the center of the retina, is essential for sharpness perception. It enables us to read fine print and perform intricate tasks like threading a needle. However, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) poses a significant threat, being the leading cause of blindness in the U.S., and can cause damage to the macula, affecting these crucial functions.
On the other hand, the peripheral retina is equally crucial, responsible for peripheral vision. This peripheral vision is vital for activities such as driving and playing sports, enabling us to navigate the world around us safely.
