Dr Zack Oakey, MD

Dr Zack Oakey, MD Dedicated to advanced surgical and medical treatments and public education.

Board-certified retina specialist and ocular oncologist specializing in retinal diseases, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachments, and ocular tumors.

03/11/2026

Can diabetic retinopathy happen in gestational diabetes?

03/10/2026

Wanna know what someone says when there is a retina tear? Here it is!

03/09/2026

What kind of anesthesia do we use for retina surgery?

03/08/2026

Sometimes it’s not obvious how to respond except to accept a patient’s decision.

03/07/2026

Can I give medical advice here?

03/07/2026

On , we stand with the ocular melanoma (OM) community and renew our commitment to advancing research, education and OM patient support.

OM is a rare form of melanoma that begins in the eye and can carry unique risks, including metastatic disease. Because it is uncommon, patients and caregivers often need specialized information and trusted resources.

Through the CURE OM initiative, the MRF has funded nearly $2.6 million in OM research and continues working to accelerate progress for this community.

Learn more about CURE OM: https://buff.ly/coML2BF

We invite the OM community to an informative weekend of learning, connection and support for this year’s Eyes on a Cure: OM Patient and Caregiver Symposium held April 17-19 in Miami, Florida in collaboration with the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

RSVP here: https://buff.ly/r3OlQA3

03/07/2026

🎬 Episode 4 is now live.
Ocular melanoma is a rare cancer — and because of that, it’s often misunderstood.

📺 https://youtu.be/R6Bg0t8gBqs
🎧 https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-n7n2i-1a6266a

In Episode 4 of My 15 Years, Melody talks about some of the most common misconceptions surrounding ocular melanoma, including funding challenges that come with such a rare diagnosis.

She also reflects on what advocacy looked like in the early days of her journey, when awareness and resources for ocular melanoma patients were far more limited than they are today.

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye, the retina, pulls away from its normal p...
03/06/2026

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye, the retina, pulls away from its normal position, effectively cutting it off from the layer of blood vessels that provides necessary oxygen and nourishment. The most common etiology is a rhegmatogenous detachment, which stems from a hole or tear in the retina that allows vitreous fluid to seep underneath, lifting the sensory retina away from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. This often happens as a result of posterior vitreous detachment, a natural aging process where the gel-like vitreous shrinks and tugs on the retinal surface. Other causes include tractional detachment, frequently seen in advanced diabetes where scar tissue pulls the retina loose, or exudative detachment, caused by fluid accumulation under the retina due to inflammatory disorders or tumors without an actual tear being present.

Treating a retinal detachment almost always requires surgical intervention to reattach the retina and prevent permanent vision loss. For simple tears, cryopexy or laser photocoagulation may be used to create a “weld” that secures the tissue back in place. If the retina has already detached, surgeons may employ pneumatic retinopexy, where a gas bubble is injected into the eye to push the retina back against the wall, or a scleral buckle, which involves placing a flexible band around the eye to counteract the force pulling the retina away. In more complex cases, a vitrectomy is performed to remove the vitreous gel and any scar tissue, followed by the placement of a gas or silicone oil bubble to hold the retina in position while it heals. The choice of procedure depends heavily on the type, severity, and location of the detachment.

03/06/2026

Here is what to look out for in the other eye if there has been a retinal detachment.

03/05/2026

We talk about posterior vitreous detachments all the time and declare boldly that everyone gets them and yet some say they’ve never heard of them. Why?

An epiretinal membrane (ERM), often referred to as a “macular pucker,” is a thin, semi-translucent layer of fibrocellula...
03/04/2026

An epiretinal membrane (ERM), often referred to as a “macular pucker,” is a thin, semi-translucent layer of fibrocellular tissue that develops on the inner surface of the retina, specifically over the macula (the area responsible for sharp, central vision). The primary etiology is typically related to age-related changes in the vitreous humor—the gel-like substance inside the eye. As we age, the vitreous can shrink and pull away from the retinal surface, a process known as posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This separation can cause microscopic damage to the retinal surface, triggering a healing response where glial cells migrate and proliferate, forming a “scar tissue” membrane. While most cases are idiopathic (occurring without a known cause in older adults), ERMs can also be secondary to eye trauma, retinal tears, inflammatory diseases, or vascular issues like diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment for an epiretinal membrane is not always necessary, especially if the condition is stable and the visual distortion is mild. Many patients manage well with regular monitoring via Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which provides high-resolution cross-sections of the retinal layers. However, if the membrane begins to contract, it can cause the underlying retina to wrinkle or swell (edema), leading to blurred or distorted vision (metamorphopsia). In these symptomatic cases, the gold standard treatment is a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy. During this micro-incisional surgery, the vitreous gel is removed and replaced with a saline solution, allowing the surgeon to delicately use micro-forceps to “peel” the membrane away from the macula. While surgery cannot always restore vision to its original state, it is highly effective at reducing distortion and preventing further progression

03/04/2026

What are the outcomes of macular hole surgery?

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114 Pacifica Suite 390
Irvine, CA
92618

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Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm

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+19498680144

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