Diabetes can cause bleeding inside the eye and blind your vision without causing any pain or pus. And since diabetic retinopathy bleeding damage often occurs without any symptoms in its early stages, it is diagnosed with an eye exam.. Everyone with diabetes should have a complete eye exam at least once a year, because if diagnosed and treated early enough, the great majority of visual loss from diabetes can be prevented.

You will be greeted by a friendly, smiling face at the front desk.  You will be asked to sign in, and will be given a personal information form and a medical history form to complete.  We will also ask for your insurance cards to make copies.  A chart will be created from this information.  An escort will accompany you to an exam room.  One of our highly qualified technicians will begin the exam.  A review of your medical history and your family's medical history will give us valuable information as to any possible problems to look for.

Next, the technician will do a thorough exam, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, pupil exam, muscle evaluation, external assessment, verification of prescription for glasses if needed, and a slit lamp or internal exam.

The technician will then dilate your eyes for a more accurate evaluation for glasses by Dr. Sims.  Once dilated, you will be escorted to the dilating area (Big Chicago). Full dilation takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

Dr. Sims will evaluate your eyes and do a retinal exam.  Then Dr. Sims will go over all the findings.  A complete report will be dictated and a copy mailed to you and your primary care physician.

Our escorts will then take you to the optical department if glasses and/or contacts are required.  Once glasses/contacts are ordered, the optician will escort you to the checkout desk, where another friendly face will schedule any further appointments, should they be needed.

Glaucoma is usually controlled with the daily use of eye drops.  Some patients cannot tolerate these glaucoma medications, or sometimes the medications are not enough to control the glaucoma pressure, and the damage continues and vision can be lost without glaucoma control.  If this happens, it becomes necessary to take the next step to control your glaucoma and save your eyes by adding more drugs or having laser treatment.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasy (SLT) - The Florida Eye Center continues our commitment in offering the safest and best patient care to prevent blindness and restore sight.  We are providing our patients with the latest alternatives in glaucoma treatment.  We are pleased to announce the availability of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty.  Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is exciting glaucoma therapy that revolutionizes your treatment by helping to control glaucoma without eye drops.  SLT laser is one of the most significant and safest advances in the treatment of glaucoma in history.  This is a laser treatment using microscopic laser light to "open" the clogged drains of the eye and lower the glaucoma pressure back to a safe level to prevent blindness.

The SLT is performed right here in our office with the newest and safest Selecta Laser.  The SLT treatment only takes a few minutes in the office and all you need is a regular appointment/reservation.

SLT offers you the following benefits:

• SLT is simple, safe, and effective glaucoma treatment for almost 100% of our glaucoma patients.

• SLT only takes minutes to perform in the office for your convenience.

• SLT is NOT painful and there are no restrictions or limitations after the office treatment.

• SLT is very successful and you may only need one treatment to replace the daily use of expensive drops.

• SLT does NOT involve any needles, knives, sutures or hospital surgery.  Risks and complications are almost zero.

• SLT is covered by almost every insurance company, including Medicare.

• SLT is ideal for patients who want to get off their glaucoma medicines, cannot take them, cannot afford them, or cannot tolerate their side-effects.

• SLT is a cold laser that does not cause scarring or damage like all previous laser treatments in the past.  This lets it be repeated safely, if needed.

• SLT has been safely done in Europe for over 10 years and can keep glaucoma controlled 365 days a year for up to 5 years.

• SLT is also a safe alternative for those not controlled with previous laser surgery or eye drops or pills.

• SLT has no systemic side effects (all eye drops have side effects).

• SLT tries to eliminate the high costs and side effects of prescription medicines, eye drops and dangerous invasive surgery treatments used in the past.

• SLT is the ideal treatment for people over 40, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and those with diabetes, high blood pressure or poor circulation.

• SLT at the Florida Eye Center is FDA approved and uses patented technology.

• SLT promotes the body's own natural healing response and reduces any chance for bleeding, infection, or blindness.

Thousands of our glaucoma patients have already received this SLT therapy.  It is proving to be simple, safe, and effective at controlling glaucoma pressure and preventing blindness.  The use of the SLT laser treatment has been found to lower the eye's pressure in almost 100% of our patients and improve the control of glaucoma.

Your SLT laser treatment is usually painless.  It is done in our office with you seated in the exam chair.  It is similar to an eye exam with anesthetic eye drops used to numb your eye.  There are no needles, knives, scissors, etc.  It takes only a few minutes and you will be allowed to go home immediately after SLT laser. There are no restrictions or limitations on your activities, diet, etc.

Make YOUR eyes smile again ...