Advanced Retina Care

Advanced Retina Care Ophthalmologist located in Fresno CA. Led by Dr. Vivian Kim, a renowned eye doctor and retina surgeon

Dr. Vivian Kim has over 15 years of experience in providing retina care to the Fresno county community. She is a retina subspecialist and a board-certified ophthalmologist providing expert eye care. Her areas of specialty include medical and surgical diseases of the retina and vitreous. This includes age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membranes and other vitreo-macular problems.

Plaquenil and Your Eyes If you are taking Plaquenil to treat an inflammatory condition or malaria, you should be aware o...
04/16/2026

Plaquenil and Your Eyes
If you are taking Plaquenil to treat an inflammatory condition or malaria, you should be aware of the side effects that may occur to your eyes and vision. Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is in a class of drugs called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, which are used to decrease inflammation, pain and joint damage. While today it is used to treat autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, it was originally used as an anti-malaria drug. Although they are uncommon, Plaquenil has side effects that may affect your eyes.
In some people, Plaquenil can cause a condition called hydroxychloroquine retinopathy, often referred to as bulls-eye maculopathy. (The condition sometimes resembles a target, or bulls-eye ring, on the retina surrounding the macula.) Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy is extremely rare and is most often seen in cases where the dosage is high or the patient has been taking it for several years. Bulls-eye maculopathy is uncommon, but when it does occur, it can be devastating visually.
Initially, central vision is not affected, but you may notice a ring of disrupted vision that may interfere with reading. As the disease progresses, it begins to affect central vision and becomes life-altering. The changes are most often permanent, but in some cases, vision has improved. Most rheumatologists recommend patients undergo a baseline eye examination prior to starting Plaquenil and be re-examined in the future depending on their risk for developing the condition. Risk factors include advanced age and having pre-existing retinal disease.
Retina specialists have guidelines for Plaquenil screenings because of associated retinal problems while taking Plaquenil. Guidelines recommend eye doctors perform a comprehensive eye exam, including the following:
• Dilated retinal examination
• Retinal photography
• Central computerized visual field test
• OCT

Our resident Fashionista, Joyce, in this gorgeous combination of Fuchsia and Black! 🌺
04/15/2026

Our resident Fashionista, Joyce, in this gorgeous combination of Fuchsia and Black! 🌺

Spring means seasonal allergies to many of us!Allergic conjunctivitis causes red, watery, itchy or gritty eyes. The cond...
04/15/2026

Spring means seasonal allergies to many of us!
Allergic conjunctivitis causes red, watery, itchy or gritty eyes. The condition is not usually painful and does not make eyes sensitive to light. It does not affect vision. The most common cause is an allergy to pollen in the hay fever season. Other causes are allergies to house dust mite, cosmetics, and problems with contact lenses, although these are less common. Eye drops usually ease symptoms.
Conjunctivitis means inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin 'skin' that covers the white part of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. It is made up of layers of specially adapted see-through (transparent) cells. Conjunctivitis is usually due to allergy, infection or irritation of the conjunctiva. Allergy is a very common cause.
Allergy means that the immune system overreacts to something to which it has become sensitive. Symptoms of increased immune activity in the eyes include redness, wateriness and itching. These are part of the body's defense mechanism to things it sees as foreign and harmful.
Seasonal conjunctivitis occurs at the same time each year. Most cases are due to pollen and occur in the hay fever season. Symptoms tend to last a few weeks each year and may vary with the pollen count. This is a measure of the amount of pollen in the air each day. The pollen count is often published in the press and in online weather forecasts

Indirect ophthalmoscopy: Have you ever wondered, what is that thing Dr. Kim wears on her head when she examines your ret...
04/14/2026

Indirect ophthalmoscopy:
Have you ever wondered, what is that thing Dr. Kim wears on her head when she examines your retina?
The instrument looks like a miner's light.
When your eyes are dilated, you will either lie or sit in a semi-reclined position. The provider holds your eye open while shining a very bright light into the eye using an instrument worn on the head. Dr. Kim views the back of the eye through a lens held close to your eye. Some pressure may be applied to the eye using a small, blunt probe. You will be asked to look in various directions. The viewer is about arms-length away from the patient. It provides the viewer a much wider field of vision of the back of the eye and the view shows elevation and depth like 3D. Almost all eye examinations by ophthalmologists today utilize the indirect ophthalmoscope.

04/14/2026

Our fabulous patient! David always bringing us fascinating fun!

Wet vs Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration “Dry” Age-Related Macular DegenerationAbout 90 percent of all people with Ag...
04/12/2026

Wet vs Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration
“Dry” Age-Related Macular Degeneration
About 90 percent of all people with Age-related Macular Degeneration have “dry” AMD, a condition in which layers of the macula (including the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium) get progressively thinner, functioning less and less as they do. This is called atrophy. In the early stage of dry AMD, the pigment or color of the macula changes. Tiny drusen appear on the retina: these are little piles of waste product of the cells of the eye. Drusen themselves may lead to deterioration and atrophy of the retina. Dry AMD often does not progress further than pigment discoloration and the presence of drusen. In fact, nearly everyone over 50 years of age has at least one small drusen.
Dry AMD is also called non-neovascular AMD and non-exudative AMD because it does not involve the exuding – that is, leakage – of fluids from blood vessels. Advanced cases – “late dry” AMD – are called geographic atrophy (GA) because large sections of the retina that are well demarcated (geographies) stop functioning.
“Wet” Age-Related Macular Degeneration
About ten percent of all cases of Age-related Macular Degeneration become “Wet” AMD (typically a person has dry AMD first and progresses toward wet).
Wet AMD is a condition in which new blood vessels grow in the choroid layer behind the retina. This condition is called choroidal neovascularization or CNV. The new vessels are weak, and they leak fluid, lipids (part of the structure of cells), and blood. The leaking gets into the layers of the retina – including the layers of the macula – and can cause scar tissue to form and retinal cells to stop functioning.
Wet AMD is also called neovascular AMD or exudative AMD because it involves the exudation or leakage of fluid and blood from new blood vessels.
© 2025 American Macular Degeneration Foundation

Almost nothing need be said when you have eyes.
04/11/2026

Almost nothing need be said when you have eyes.

National Siblings Day 2026 is on Friday, April 10, 2026. Celebrated annually on this date in the US and Canada, it honor...
04/10/2026

National Siblings Day 2026 is on Friday, April 10, 2026. Celebrated annually on this date in the US and Canada, it honors the special bond between brothers and sisters, focusing on appreciation, support, and shared memories. It is not a federal holiday but is widely recognized, often celebrated by sharing photos or spending time together.

For most healthy adults, a balanced diet usually provides the necessary vitamins for eye health. However, specific high-...
04/10/2026

For most healthy adults, a balanced diet usually provides the necessary vitamins for eye health. However, specific high-dose formulations are clinically recommended for individuals with certain eye conditions, most notably Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

The Clinically Recommended Formula (AREDS2)
The AREDS2 (Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2) formula is the standard of care for people with intermediate to advanced AMD to help slow its progression. It is not recommended for preventing AMD in healthy eyes.
Lutein (10 mg) & Zeaxanthin (2 mg): These carotenoids replace beta-carotene in the modern formula. They filter harmful blue light and protect the retina from oxidative stress.
Vitamin C (500 mg): An antioxidant that supports the structure of ocular blood vessels and may lower the risk of cataracts.
Vitamin E (400 IU): Protects eye cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Zinc (80 mg): Helps transport Vitamin A from the liver to the retina to produce melanin, a protective pigment.
Copper (2 mg): Added strictly to prevent copper-deficiency anemia, which can be caused by high zinc intake.

Interesting!
04/08/2026

Interesting!

04/07/2026

Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease. It is caused by the changes in the blood vessels of the retina, which is light sensitive tissue in the back of your eye. As this disease progresses, blood vessels can become blocked and prevent areas of the retina from receiving blood and nutrients. Damaged blood vessels can also swell and leak fluid into the macula (which is responsible for sharp, central vision), leading to diabetic macular edema.
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the term used for swelling of the macula and is a complication of diabetic retinopathy. Over time, this swelling may lead to vision loss. About half of all people with diabetic retinopathy will develop DME. Although it is more likely to occur as diabetic retinopathy worsens, DME can happen at any stage of the disease.
Diabetic macular edema (DME) may come on suddenly, which is why you need to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year.
About half of all people with diabetic retinopathy will develop DME. Although it is more likely to occur as diabetic retinopathy worsens, DME can happen at any stage of the disease.

Address

7145 N Chestnut Avenue, # 108
Fresno, CA
93730

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15597021212

Website

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