Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) are genetic diseases that affect your vision.
At the Retinal Dystrophy Clinic, we:
To learn more about our clinic, contact us at 412-647-4732 or Retinal.Dystrophy@upmc.edu.
Experts worldwide know the Retinal Dystrophy Clinic at the UPMC Vision Institute for our care of adults with IRD. We see people from around the U.S. and the world, including Europe, Asia, and South America.
Our care team offers a range of cutting-edge IRD programs and services. We not only care for your vision but also how an IRD affects the rest of your life.
Our programs and services include:
Having an IRD means a genetic change is the cause of your retina problems.
Gene therapy isn't a cure for IRDs, but it's a promising treatment. It may improve your vision and slow the progression of your disease.
Some types of gene therapy can replace a defective gene with a new gene. Others produce material that helps stop or reduce the risk of cell death in the retina.
Doctors can give some gene therapies through a shot in the eye. Others require surgery.
If you have an IRD or your doctor suspects it, we will help arrange your care at UPMC Vision Institute.
To schedule a visit for yourself or a loved one, call 412-647-4732 or email us at Retinal.Dystrophy@upmc.edu.
Before your first visit, we need access to your past eye health records and test results.
To refer someone to our clinic, fax their records and demographic information to 412-647-2064. Include Attn: IRD Clinic on the cover letter.
With questions, call us at 412-647-4732 or email us at Retinal.Dystrophy@upmc.edu.
Our main clinic manages adults with IRDs at the UPMC Vision Institute's new headquarters, the UPMC Mercy Pavilion, at:
1622 Locust Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
We see kids with IRDs at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh at:
4401 Penn Ave. Penguin Suite Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Before planning your first visit, we'll look at your past eye health records. This includes the results of any tests you've had, such as an ERG and DNA testing.
Having this data beforehand helps us best prepare for your appointment and avoid repeating tests.
You should also check with your health plan about what they cover. If you worry about the cost of your visit, let us know, and we'll do our best to help.
Your first visit will take a few hours and include dilation. You may want to ask a friend or loved one to drive you.
We urge people we treat to have a thorough exam every one to two years. These appointments last three or four hours, including tests and exams.
We also offer low-vision testing and genetic counseling.
We may be unable to arrange all testing on the same day as your regular visit. But we always strive to lessen the number of visits you must make to our clinic.
Our care team includes:
Our team approach for diagnosing and treating IRDs also includes experts in:
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