By Rajesh K. Shetty, M.D. Nearly 3 million Americans have glaucoma. The prevalence of the disease has been on the rise for the last two decades, a rise that will continue in our aging population. As a glaucoma specialist, I feel fortunate to be practicing during a time when our treatment options have advanced tremendously.
Glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease that affects more than three million Americans. Because the disease is typically asymptomatic until the later stages of its progression, it is critical to have regular, dilated eye exams, especially if you have risk factors. Though it is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, early detection
More than a dozen Jacksonville patients in need received the gift of sight this season. It was all thanks to our nonprofit Florida Eye Cares, in partnership with Sunbelt Anaesthesia, Southpoint Surgery Center, and the doctors who donated their time for the second year in a row. “There’s such a wonderful thing about giving the
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. According to CDC estimates, more than 30 million people in the US over age 40 are affected by them. Despite the safety and efficacy of cataract surgery, many older adults do not treat the disease, either due to barriers to treatment or simple unawareness. When a cataract
Florida Eye Specialists is Jacksonville’s leader for comprehensive eye care—from diagnosis, to treatment, to surgery. In line with our mission to provide excellent care and the latest technology to our Jacksonville communities, we are thrilled to add yet another highly-skilled physician to our team. Steven R. Maier, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in general
While it is well known that diabetes can cause complications like cardiovascular disease or kidney damage, the relationship between diabetes and the eyes isn’t talked about as often. But it’s important to be aware that diabetes can put patients at an increased risk for developing dangerous eye conditions, collectively known as diabetic eye disease. Regular
Florida Eye Specialists is proud to fund pro-bono surgeries for vision-saving care through the Florida Eye Cares foundation. William Servance, a Jacksonville dad of two, received one of these free cataract surgeries when his insurance wouldn’t cover the cost. Dr. Ravi Patel performed the crucial surgery in October. Now, Severance says, he can see better
Do you have trouble keeping your eyelids open? Do you feel like they are beginning to impair your vision? Drooping eyelids, also known as ptosis, are very common. They are often the result of age, as the skin around the eye loses elasticity and the muscles supporting the eyelids weaken. This causes excess skin or
Dr. Jason F. Miles, M.D., is honored to bring patient-focused eye care to Northeast Florida. He joins the Florida Eye Specialists team after completing his internship in internal medicine, residency in ophthalmology, and fellowship in cornea and external disease at The University of Florida / UF Health in Gainesville. Through his practice, he hopes to
Nearly one out of every 200 people suffer from Graves’ Disease. And nearly half the time, this disease is accompanied by a condition known as Graves’ Ophthalmopathy, or Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). While symptoms are often mild, this condition can lead to severe vision loss. That’s why diagnosis is crucial to soothe eyes and preserve
The collective hearts of our Jacksonville eye care community have been grieving recently, since losing a friend and colleague to suicide. He was a military veteran and experienced tremendous stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us at Florida Eye Specialists knew him or knew of him, including Dr. Ravi Patel. Through Florida Eye
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss for Americans over age 65, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Macular degeneration affects at least 11 million Americans, and that number is expected to double by 2050. While blindness is rare in AMD, it can cause severe central vision
