Glaucoma Doctors in Fort Myers
If you live or work in Fort Myers and believe you many have glaucoma, you will want to find the most qualified eye doctors who can evaluate your eyes, explain the treatment options, and help prevent further damage to your eyes.
Elmquist Eye Group has served Southwest Florida for more than two decades, providing a complete range of eye care services in a comfortable and caring setting.
What Causes Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve located at the back of the eye, usually because the fluid pressure inside the eye is too high. However, this is not always the case; some people have normal fluid pressure but still get glaucoma.
Glaucoma typically develops slowly and without any symptoms or pain. You may hear it called the “silent thief of sight” because as much as 40% of vision can be lost before a person begins to notice.
Who is at Risk for Glaucoma?
According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, people at risk for glaucoma include:
- Anyone over the age of 60
- African-Americans over age 40
- Family history of glaucoma
- Extremely nearsighted individuals
- Individuals with thin corneas
- History of diabetes
- History of high blood pressure
- History of elevated intraocular pressure
- History of steroid medication usage
The eye doctors at Elmquist Eye Group can detect early symptoms of glaucoma during your routine eye examination. We will discuss all of these factors and help you decide if you need glaucoma treatment or whether you should be monitored regularly to detect early signs of damage to the optic nerve.
Glaucoma Treatment
Damage caused to the optic nerve by glaucoma cannot usually be reversed. The goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and stop the damage.
Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, oral medications, laser surgery, traditional surgery, such as trabeculectomy, or a combination of these methods. Recent advances in laser therapy have made the procedure so safe and effective that, for some patients, laser therapy is used instead of medications.
The type of treatment or surgery your doctor recommends will depend on the type and severity of your glaucoma and the general health of your eye.
Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma can minimize loss of vision before the disease becomes too advanced. The glaucoma doctors at Elmquist Eye Group in Fort Myers can help. Call us at (239) 936-2020 to schedule an appointment.