Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management in Jacksonville

The optomap ultra-widefield retinal imaging device is a unique piece of technology that allows us to capture highly detailed pictures of 80% of your retina.

The process also allows us to examine your retina without having to dilate your eyes, making it one of our go-to choices for observing your eye health and detecting potential issues.

Tonometry is a technique that helps us measure your eye’s intraocular pressure (IOP). High or unstable IOP is a common sign of glaucoma, an eye disease that can cause permanent vision loss.

We use 2 different tonometry techniques:

• Goldmann applanation tonometry
• Non-contact tonometry (the puff test)

Both techniques measure your IOP levels by testing the resistance of your eye surface. Goldmann applanation tonometers use a small probe, while a non-contact tonometer uses a small puff of air.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that affect your optic nerve. Many versions of glaucoma occur alongside the unstable rise of IOP levels, but others may develop while your IOP stays at a normal range.

The 3 most common types of glaucoma include:

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma occurs when small blockages form in your eye’s natural drainage system, which prevents fluids from flowing out of your eyes properly. Over time, your IOP levels rise and affect your optic nerve, eventually leading to vision loss.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common version of the disease, and your risk of developing it increases with age, genetics, or medical conditions like diabetes.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma is an emergency that can cause sudden symptoms like nausea, red eyes, eye pain, headaches, and vision loss.

It can occur when the drainage canal between the iris and cornea closes, rapidly increasing IOP levels. If you risk developing glaucoma and experience sudden eye symptoms, please contact us for an emergency appointment.

Laser peripheral iridotomy surgery could help lower your risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma.

Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Normal-tension glaucoma develops when your IOP levels are within a normal range. However, our team can help detect this issue by observing your optic nerve during a comprehensive eye exam.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease usually affecting adults 55 and older. The disease targets the macula, a part of your retina responsible for providing your central vision.

As the disease deteriorates the macula, it may become more difficult to read, drive, or recognize faces.

There are 2 types of AMD:

Dry AMD is the most common and can occur when small deposits of lipids, known as drusen, thin the macula over time and lead to vision loss.

Wet AMD is much less common but is responsible for 90% of all AMD-related vision loss.

Wet AMD can develop when abnormal blood vessels develop under the macula over time. These vessels can break and leak fluid, causing the macula to swell, leading to permanent vision loss.

While diabetes can increase the risk of open-angle glaucoma and cataracts, it can also increase the risk of diabetes-specific eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

If you have diabetes, we recommend having yearly eye exams to protect your sight. Learn more about how diabetes can affect your eyes on our Diabetic Eye Exams page.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that occurs when diabetes affects the blood vessels in your retina. Over time, these vessels can bulge, break, and leak fluid into the retina, causing permanent vision loss.

A more severe form of the disease, known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, can occur when your retina creates new, but abnormal, blood vessels to help compensate for fluid loss. However, these vessels are delicate and break easily, which can create scar tissue on your retina and increase the risk of retinal detachment.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema is an eye disease that can develop alongside diabetic retinopathy.

As fluids leak from damaged blood vessels, the fluids can accumulate under the macula and cause it to swell. Eventually, it may lead to central vision problems and possible permanent vision loss.

Cataracts are a common eye condition many adults develop as they grow older, but the risk of them developing can increase if you smoke, drink excessively, have diabetes, or do not protect your eyes from UV exposure.

Cataracts develop as proteins in your eye’s lens break down over time, which causes the lens to stiffen and develop a milky, hazy color that obstructs your sight. Glasses and contact lenses could help correct early vision problems caused by cataracts, but the only way to restore your sight is with cataract surgery.