Eye Care Specialists Fort Myers

We all do annual eye exams – or at least we all should! Do you think of your eye doctor as your eye care specialist? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t. You never know when you might need a true eye care specialist, however, whether it be for injury or disease. Fortunately, they are available right here in Fort Myers at Elmquist Eye Group.

Why would I need an eye care specialist?

Many of our patients have diabetes, but they don’t realize that diabetes can have a profound impact on the eyes because you can develop diabetic retinopathy as well as increase your risk for developing other eye conditions like glaucoma.

Diabetes damages the blood vessels in your retina, which causes diabetic retinopathy. Because the retina is the light-sensitive portion of your eye that focuses light for vision, over time the retinopathy can become worse and even lead to vision loss. If you have diabetes and have noticed your vision becoming blurry or less intense, it is important to see an eye care specialist. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop retinopathy.

Any diabetic patient is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, but not all patients will. Diabetic retinopathy that goes undetected for years can definitely lead to substantial vision loss. Early-stage detection makes all the difference; when retinopathy is detected and treated early, the overwhelming majority of patients will avoid any substantial loss of vision.

Diabetic retinopathy generally has no symptoms, so most patients never notice any changes in vision until it is too late. Seeing an eye care specialist is critical for early detection, so even if you don’t have symptoms, please come see us for an exam.

It is important for you to know that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. A dilated eye exam is the only way our doctor can perform a thorough retinal evaluation on a yearly basis to ensure your eyes are not being affected by your diabetes.

What if I develop cataracts?

While cataracts are not a disease, but rather a normal part of aging, they do interfere with vision. The lens of the eye becomes opaque and cloudy when proteins are deposited on the lens. Just as with diabetes, most cataracts are detected during a comprehensive eye exam because changes in vision are so subtle over time that patients often don’t notice the signs and symptoms of cataracts.

A large number of people over the age of 60 will develop cataracts, but our surgeons can easily remedy the situation with a safe and painless lens replacement surgery. The cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. Millions of surgeries are done each year across the United States, with high patient satisfaction and an extremely high success rate. 

Trust Elmquist

Just remember that many eye diseases don’t have clear symptoms and can silently be doing damage while you think your eyes are just fine. It is very important to routinely have annual eye exams, but even more important that a trained eye care specialist right here in Fort Myers is nearby for any out-of-the-ordinary eye needs you may have.

For over two decades, Elmquist Eye Group has proudly served Southwest Florida as the preferred eye care specialist in the area. Our highly trained doctors and staff are ready to meet all your eye health needs, so call us today to schedule this all-too-important annual appointment.