Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Ophthalmology

The Clear Choice for Quality Eye Care

Watson Clinic’s expert Ophthalmology department offers comprehensive eye care, from routine examinations to glaucoma treatments to laser surgery. An in-house eyewear store is available for your convenience.

Our ophthalmologists focus on the anatomy, functions and diseases of the eye. They treat a variety of eye disorders that may require surgery. Cataracts are one of the most common of these disorders. Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens of the eye that often results in blurry vision, glare or shifts in color perception. Cataracts are common as we age, though they may result from factors such as:

Diabetes
Smoking or
Certain medications

Cataract surgery, which involves the replacement of your eye lens, is the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States and boasts a remarkable 95% rate of effectiveness. For many years, though, this procedure was performed with stiff lenses, which resulted in multiple stitches and a longer healing period.

Our physicians offer a more efficient, minimally invasive procedure with softer lens replacements, often resulting in no stitches and much smaller incisions. The new procedure also avoids the need for general anesthesia and normally allows the patient to return home the day of surgery.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerve and retina, and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Risk factors for the disease include a family history, thin cornea, eye trauma, and extreme nearsightedness. Most patients with glaucoma also display an elevated pressure in their eye.

Another type of glaucoma is called narrow angle glaucoma. This occurs when the pressure in the eye reaches acutely high levels, and the patient could possibly present with red eye, blurred vision, halos around lights, pain, headache, nausea or vomiting in the most extreme cases. Intermittent or low grade chronic narrow angle glaucoma is also common and may present without extreme pain, but only mild eye discomfort or mild vision blur. These are emergency situations and prompt evaluation and management by an ophthalmologist is essential.

Glaucoma is diagnosed with a series of simple, non-invasive tests that are standard in any routine eye examination.

Pressure reading – Fluids must circulate within the eye to ensure proper function. High eye pressure can occur when drainage of this fluid from the eye is impeded. Your ophthalmologist utilizes specialized equipment to quickly and effectively monitor the pressure in your eyes.
Visual field test – In glaucoma, a patient’s periphery is usually the first part of the field of vision to become impaired. In this test, a machine will flash lights in a patient’s periphery, and the patient will respond by pushing a button upon spotting each light.
Optic nerve scanning – Computer optic nerve scanning is a state-of-the-art method of examining the optic nerve. The progression of the disease produces very subtle and slow changes in the shape of the optic nerve, which can be detected easily with new computerized technology.

Often times, there are no symptoms for glaucoma until the late stages of the disease. For this reason, it is crucial that you maintain a routine eye examination schedule to detect early warning signs of the disease. Once glaucoma is diagnosed, it is often treated with highly effective eye drops, and occasionally with laser or conventional surgery.

In addition to the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma, our ophthalmologists also offer plastic and reconstructive eye surgery, diabetic eye care, contact lens fittings,artificial eye fitting and care, and a comprehensive series of eye exams for adults and children.

The ophthalmology team is complimented by Watson Clinic’s optometry department, led by Dr. Mary Frates, and Bridges Optical Center, our in-house eyewear store. If you are in need of contact lenses, please call 863-680-7486 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mary Frates our Optometrist.

	Musa H. Awan, MD Education Activities: Medical degree, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, MA; Internship, University of Medicine and Dentistry, Cooper Hospital, Camden, NJ; Residency, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX Board Certifications: Ophthalmology Subspecialty: Cataract Surgery Professional Activities Memberships: American Board of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Florida Medical Association, Polk County Medical Association
	Adam S. Gant, MD Education Activities: Medical degree, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL; Internship, St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA; Residency, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA Board Certifications: Ophthalmology Subspecialty: Cataract Surgery Professional Activities Memberships: American Board of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons, Florida Medical Association, Polk County Medical Association
	Srinivas S. Iyengar, MD Education Activities: University of Colorado, Denver, CO, MD; Exempla St. Joseph Hospital, Denver, CO, General Surgery, Internship; University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, Ophthalmology, Residency; Eyesthetica, Los Angeles, CA, Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, ASOPRS Sponsored Fellowship Board Certifications: Ophthalmology Subspecialty: Oculoplastics Professional Activities Memberships: American Board of Ophthalmology; American Academy of Ophthalmology; Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology; Florida Medical Association; Polk County Medical Association
	James M. Magnusen, MD Education Activities: Medical degree, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI; Internship, Presbyterian Medical Center, Denver, CO; Residency, University Hospitals, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Fellowship, University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL Board Certifications: Ophthalmology Subspecialty: General & Pediatric Ophthalmology Professional Activities Memberships: American Board of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Central Florida Glaucoma Screening, Inc. (Past Medical Director), Phi Eta Sigma
	Alan M. Rich, MD Education Activities: Medical degree, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Internship and Residency, University of Florida Hospital, Gainesville, FL; Fellow, Ophthalmic Research and Assistant Resident and Resident; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; Military Service, U.S. Army, Surgeon, Vietnam; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Valley Forge Army Hospital, Valley Forge, PA Board Certifications: Ophthalmology Subspecialty: Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery Professional Activities Memberships: American Board of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Tampa Bay Ophthalmology Society, Author of numerous publications

Physicians

Musa H. Awan, MD
Adam S. Gant, MD
Srinivas S. Iyengar, MD
James M. Magnusen, MD
Alan M. Rich, MD

Locations

Watson Clinic Main
1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd.
Lakeland, FL 33805

Please call 863-680-7486 to schedule an appointment.