Dr. Colin McCannel
Retinal Surgery
Los Angeles, CA
32 years experience male
Locations
Office
Los Angeles, CA
About
Bio
Colin A. McCannel, M.D., Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Jules
Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of
America. He received his title of doctor of medicine in 1991 from Mayo Medical
School in Rochester, Minnesota. He
completed a Medical Internship from 1991 to 1992 at the Mayo Graduate School of
Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, and went on to train in ophthalmology at the
Department of Ophthalmology at UCLA and Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los
Angeles, California. Between 1996 to
1998 he returned to the Jules Stein Eye Institute for a vitreoretinal
fellowship. Between 1998 and 2008 Dr.
McCannel has worked in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, Minnesota as a vitreoretinal specialist. In the fall of 2008, he joined the Jules
Stein Eye Institute.
He is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners since July
1991 and the American Board of Ophthalmology since October 1996. He is licensed to practice medicine in
California and Minnesota.
Dr. McCannel has received several honors beginning during his
undergraduate years. He was part of the University Honors Program at his
undergraduate college of California State University Northridge. He was the Outstanding Graduating Senior in
the Department of Biology and the year previously was awarded the Outstanding
Junior in the School of Science and Mathematics. He was listed in Who’s Who in American
College and Universities in 1987. During
his training he was co-winner of the Henry and Lillian Nesburn award for best
research paper at the Jules Stein Eye Institute in 1995. He received the Teacher of the Year Award
awarded by residents in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in
1996. He was a Heed Fellow in 1996-1997,
and received a Paul Kayser Scholar Travel Fellowship awarded by the
Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology in 1998. In 2008, he received the “Innovation in
Teaching” award from the Mayo Clinic School of Continuing Medical Education.
He is member of several organizations including the American and
Minnesota Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, the
Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Surgeons,
the Retina Society, and the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology. At the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology he
has been a member of the Board of Directors since the year 2000 and served as
the President of the organization in 2006/7 academic year.
He has given many lectures throughout the world and has done book
chapters and research papers. His
specific interests include uveitis, digital imaging and clinical research
trials. He is a reviewer for several
prestigious journals including Archives of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology and
American Journal of Ophthalmology.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Retinal Surgery
Ophthalmology
Doctor Q&A
244 Answers
49 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Difficult to say...: The constellation of symptoms "projectile vomiting, nausea, headaches, blurry vision" could really be many things. From an eye care standpoint, high ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Don't ignore: symptoms of retinal detachment include flashes and floaters, blurred side vision, and eventually blurred or bad central vision. Patients wit new onse... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Over many years: Macular degeneration is a slowly progressive condition. In the absence of "wei" disease, vision changes start as delayed recovery of vision from brig... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Annual: Annual eye exams can detect diabetic eye disease early, and ultimately save vision!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Get 2nd opinion!: A retinal macroaneurism would be extremely unusual in a 22 year old. It is a condition usually seen in folks past middle age, and often with high blo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
See ophthalmologist: Best way to know whether or not retina is detached is to have exam by an ophthalmologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Rarely: In some cases the myopia can cause such severely elongated eyes that they appear to be bulging. More commonly, bulging eyes are caused by thyroid eye... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Bad deal: Assuming what is meant is a scar in the macula, it usually irreversibly damages vision, as the macula is where central vision is captured in the eye. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: Retinal dystrophies are uncommon or rare, usually inherited conditions. Most retinal specialists are good at diagnosing them. However, if you want a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Ocriplasmin: An injectable medication called Ocriplasmin can be used for repairing macular holes. The success rate is not as high as surgery, but surgery can be s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Usually overnight: As long it is truly only irritation, the eyes should be better b the next day. There are many problems that may seem like simple irritation, but requ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Laser no help: Laser for dry macular degeneration has been studied well. Laser to the macula of dry amd patients makes drusen go away, so it looks better on exam. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Yes, but unlikely: Diabetic retinopathy represents the damage to the retina from too high blood sugar in diabetics. Most patients that develop diabetic retinopathy will... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Mild nearsightedness: You have mild nearsightedness without astigmatism. That means you could see at distance more clearly with glasses of power -1.00 diopters.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Tears: Tears contain antibodies, and there is an active flow from the tear glands across the eye to the drain of the tears (puncta). This flow helps keep th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Many viruses: The "common cold" is caused by many viruses, though, as you point out, rhinovirus is the most common accounting for 30–80% of colds in a given season.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Good treatment: Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin) eye drops happen to be a great and common treatment for otitis externa (outer ear infection).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Risk reduction: yes: The best studied preventive intervention (treatment) for macular degeneration is vitamin supplementation. There is an approximately 25% risk reductio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: If there are unexplained health abnormalities, it is always a good idea to continue seeing a doctor until things are sorted out, or resolved. There a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Usually no: it is hard to imagine a type of massage that would cause problems with a recently repaired retinal tear. To be safe, make sure the treating retina s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
If new, need exam: If they are new onset, get an eye exam urgently. Floaters in the eye have several causes. The most common cause is degeneration of the vitreous fluid... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Yes, no: Starring at a light for a long time, depending on how bright the light is, can cause retina damage, but it would be very rare. Cold compresses are sa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Possibly: Eye irritation can cause headaches. In turn, contact lenses can cause irritation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Many possibilities: Tearing can be caused by blockage of the tear drain, which is probably what you refer to as the hole in the eye. Swelling can be one of the reasons t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Could be many things: When evaluating bumps on the eye, it is important to know the exact location, color, pain level, age of patient etc. As there are many diagnoses that ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: It depends on what you mean by recovery. The changes in vision from the bright light of the laser will recover within minutes. The mild discomfort y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Small, but possible: Hiv virus is generally not very transmissible. However, if blood of an infected individual gets on a mucous membrane, like the eye surface, transmiss... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Not unusual: The eye can reaon irritable for days to weeks, and even months following eye surgery, including cataract surgery. As long as the vision is good, and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Difficult to say: Joint pain, esp. When there are several joints involved, causes rage from serious auto-immune disease to a side effect of a self limited viral infecti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Play - OK: Dilation of the pupils commonly causes blurring of vision. As long as you can see well enough to play basketball following with dilation of your pupi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Big challenge!: Too low eye pressure after retinal reattachment surgery is not very common, but occurs with increasing frequency the more surgeries were necessary to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Can be serious: Retinal holes do not look like floaters, though they can be associated. The most common cause of floaters is degeneration of the vitreous fluid. The f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: Yes, it will grow back.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Rare: Rarely, macular holes can resolve on their own. This usually occurs with recent onset, small holes. It would not be expected to have a negative effe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Give it some time: You probably caused a corneal abrasion, this will heal overnight. If tearing persists for more than a day, see a doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: Uveitis is a group of diseases that is quite large. Some uveitis diseases are curable, notably those caused by infection, others are treatable but no... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Pain, blurry vision: The most comon symptom of acute angle closure glaucoma is pain. Blurry vision or hallows around lights at night may be the only symptoms, however. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Not common, fixable: Minor to moderate trauma to the eye rarely causes retinal tears and detachment. When it occurs, retinal reattachment surgery with vitrectomy or scler... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
yes and no: If one already sees 20/20, there is little point in wearing a correction. However, theoretically, the vision in a young healthy eye can be as good as... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: "broken blood vessel" is actually not a very specific diagnosis. If a small hemorrhage on the eye surface is meant, then it will typically ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Surgery: It is not advisable to take the risk of surgery, unless the floaters are causing a serious problem. If you have difficulty reading, or the floater af... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Not really: If you mean floaters in the eye, they have several causes. The most common cause is degeneration of the vitreous fluid. The floaters gradually get w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Unlikely: There is no known association with using eyes for vision and making any retinal disease worse, including retinal detachment risk.
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4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Most likely OK: As long as you washed it off, and it was a medication, it is probably ok. If the eye is red the next day, seek professional evaluation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Hours: Braun eyes - 2-4 hours
blue eyes up to a day.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
No: Swollen eye is not a known symptom of pregnancy. However, with periods or pregnancy some women have water retention and can get puffy eyelids.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Ok: Oflaxacin eye and eat drops are a good treatment for otitis externa (outer ear infection), and can also be used for some cases of mide ear infection. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Mostly yes: Glaucoma comes in many versions. If you have chronic open angle glaucoma, it is ok to fly. If you have high pressures following other surgery in the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Not really: How much water you drink will have minimal if any impact on the severity of your glaucoma. Please make sure your glaucoma is well managed by an eye c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Colin McCannelanswered
Retinal Surgery 32 years experience
Many possibilities: There are many reasons why an eye is bloodshot and painful. The first thing that comes to mind is inflammation of the eye (uveitis). This would be a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
4
Recommendations
176
Thank you notes
Jan 2, 2014
Thank so much for being a part of the Health Tap community for the benefit of both the patients and the doctors!
Dec 23, 2013
an excellent retina surgeon
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. McCannel is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you! I am on my 2nd surgery after detachment as the small hole didn't seal after my first where gas was used. This time I got the buckle and oil and so I am just r...Read More
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thnanks much for your time.I see ophthalmologist colleague q.3mos.I
appreciate your opinion.
Mike Michaels(also HT MD)
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I read side effects for xepanicol is that people with kidney disease should not use it. Is that true?
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, MN
Graduated 1991MD
Residency
Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA
Awards
Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Senior Honor Award, American Society of Retina Specialists
Honor Award, American Society of Retina Specialists
Affiliations
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
American Society of Retina Specialists
Macula Society
Publications
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