New Sight Saving Technology Now Available in Southwest Florida

7/31/2003 1:00:00 AM

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the United States - affecting about three million Americans.

FORT MYERS -- July 31, 2003 Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the United States - affecting about three million Americans. Unfortunately, up to half of them are unaware that they have the disease because glaucoma develops without warning. Too often, treatment isn’t sought until a degree of vision has deteriorated. At that point, steps may be taken to control the progression of the disease however; the vision that is noticeably impaired is lost forever.

The key to preventing vision loss is early glaucoma detection with advanced technology equipment like the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II) now available in our area at the ophthalmology practice of Rick Palmon, M.D.

The HRT II is a highly advanced, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. It generates extremely accurate, detailed data and comprehensive analysis that simply is not possible to obtain with traditional examinations. By scanning the optic nerve and adjacent nerve fiber layer, the HRT II produces a three dimensional topographic map. It not only detects the onset of glaucoma, it also provides essential information for monitoring the disease in follow-up exams.

The HRT II exam is fast, safe, and usually does not require dilating the eye. While a patient sits comfortably in a stationary position, a laser scans the eye for just a few seconds (at a lower energy level than that produced from a television remote control).

Glaucoma can develop in anyone. However, some people are considered at higher risk than others - including individuals over age 60, African-Americans over age 40, and people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of glaucoma.

Southwest Florida Eye Care offers the comprehensive, non-invasive HRT II exam for early diagnostic and monitoring of glaucoma. If you, or someone you know, is at high risk for glaucoma, ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist about a referral to Dr. Palmon for an HRT II exam. Or, contact Southwest Florida Eye Care directly at (239) 768-0006.

Southwest Florida Eye Care is a full-service eye care medical practice specializing in cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment and refractive surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Comprehensive eye exams for all ages are offered.

Offices are located at 13670 Metropolis Ave, Suite 105, across from Gulf Coast Hospital in South Fort Myers and in Naples at the optometric practice Rory Brienen, O.D., in the Naples Walk shopping center at the intersection of Vanderbilt Rd. Ext and Airport-Pulling Road. An office in Cape Coral is scheduled to open this fall.