Ophthalmologists are healthcare providers that focus on the health of the eye. Because the eye is very complex, ophthalmology is broken down into several specialties that focus on different parts of eye healthcare. Some specialists focus on LASIK surgery or cataracts, however, retina specialists are ophthalmologists who treat diseases of the retina and vitreous. 

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The Retina is " a layer at the back of the eyeball containing cells that are sensitive to light and that trigger nerve impulses that pass via the optic nerve to the brain, where a visual image is formed."

When there are issues with vision that are not remedied by glasses, cataract surgery, or YAG procedures, retina specialists are brought into the picture.