Florida Eye Specialists has multiple locations around North East Florida, including Jacksonville, Saint Augustine and Palatka. The practice was established about a decade ago and eventually merged with Eagle Eye Care Group and Chokshi Vision Center in 2014. Early this year, Dr. John Vassalo merged his practice with Florida Eye Specialists. As a result of the mergers, Florida Eye Specialists can offer a variety of services that include LASIK surgery, oculoplastic surgery, and treatments for dry eye at many different locations.
What can a patient expect from a glaucoma specialist in St. Augustine?
Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that gradually damage the optic nerve and thus cause blindness. It is often caused by a blockage of the eye’s drainage system that results in pressure building up within the eye and pressing on the optic nerve. The many treatments for glaucoma generally try to relieve the pressure. While there is so far no way to restore lost sight, treating glaucoma can keep it from getting worse.
In most cases, the doctor will prescribe eye drops to relieve the pressure within the eye. Some laser treatments can also help reduce pressure within the eye. The selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), for example, works by widening the eye’s drain so fluid can leave more easily.
If those don’t work, the doctor will perform surgery. They may, for example, implant a shunt that will channel fluid inside the eye to the back and outside the eye.
The trabulectomy is a common procedure that also redirects fluid away from the inside of the eye. The surgeon will create a tiny channel through the sclera or white of the eye to the outside edge in the upper part of the eye. The fluid leaves the eye altogether and is absorbed by the body.
Contact us to learn more about a glaucoma specialist in St. Augustine FL or visit the website https://www.floridaeyespecialists.com/.
