Glaucoma Specialist Lee County
With prompt diagnosis and treatment from a specialist at Elmquist Eye Group in Lee County, Florida, glaucoma can be controlled. We encourage you to visit us to learn about treatment options that can preserve your vision.
Dr. Rodriguez is a skilled, board certified ophthalmologist, and Drs. Wagner and Burt are board certified optometrists. We are proud to offer state-of-the-art facilities and a wide variety of services, from routine eye exams for glasses to laser cataract and glaucoma surgery.
Glaucoma Facts
- Glaucoma can cause blindness if left untreated. It is not curable, and vision that is lost cannot be restored.
- Glaucoma has many causes and elevated eye pressure is a factor in most. Pressure builds up in the eye due to problems with drainage of aqueous humor, a fluid produced in the eye.
- Over 4 million Americans are estimated to have glaucoma, but nearly half of them are not aware they have the disease.
- About 90% of patients aged 40 and older are affected by open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease.
- It is possible for babies and children to get a rare form of early onset glaucoma.
- Open-angle glaucoma typically has no symptoms, pain or warning signs.
- Closed-angle glaucoma, the rarer form of the disease, is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, blindness can quickly result.
- Glaucoma is 5 times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than in Caucasians and four times more likely to cause vision loss.
- The risk of glaucoma rises rapidly in Hispanics over the age of 60.
How Is Glaucoma Detected?
Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam at Elmquist Eye Group is the most important thing you can do to detect glaucoma before it damages your vision. A glaucoma screening that checks only the pressure of the eye is not sufficient.
We will use drops to dilate the pupil of your eye to examine your optic nerve and other diagnostic tests to visualize and assess any damage to the optic nerve. We may also inspect the drainage structure of your eye, analyze the optic nerve by means of a scanning laser, take optic nerve photos, measure the corneal thickness, and test the visual fields of each eye.
The information from these tests is analyzed by the doctor to determine the diagnosis, severity, and course of treatment.
Glaucoma Treatment
Each person’s eyes are unique, and the treatment for glaucoma will depend upon the nature and severity of the disease. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, when detected and treated at an early stage, it can be controlled. Eye drops, oral medications, laser surgery, and conventional surgeries are used to prevent damage to the optic nerve from occurring or to slow its progress.
Your glaucoma specialist at Elmquist Eye Group in Lee County is able to detect and treat all forms of glaucoma. Whether you have already been diagnosed and need treatment or want to protect your eyes from the possibility of getting glaucoma, schedule an appointment today by calling (239) 936-2020.