Florida Eye Associates helps seniors see (and hear) life more clearly

Florida Eye Associates, Brevard’s first and largest ophthalmology group practice, was founded by William J. Broussard, MD in 1967. Some of Dr. Broussard’s patients have been with him since the beginning and many more have turned to Florida Eye over the years. The group treats patients of all ages, but many conditions are more prevalent in aging eyes.

“Eyesight is often one of the first senses affected by aging,” says Dr. Broussard. “By the time most people reach their mid-40s, their eyes become less flexible, hindering their ability to focus at close distances. It is a natural part of the aging process.”

Many aging eye conditions can lead to reduced vision and even blindness. Some of the conditions commonly found in the aging population include:

Cataracts, or clouding of the eye’s natural lens resulting in blurred vision. Left untreated, cataracts become denser, reduce vision and interfere with normal activities. Surgery to remove cataracts under is performed under local anesthesia at Florida Eye’s Ambulatory Surgery Center. The natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens implant.

Glaucoma caused by increased pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is critical to sight, transmitting visual information to the brain.

An estimated 67 million people have glaucoma. More than half of them do not know it. Untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness. Routine dilated eye exams at Florida Eye Associates can detect and treat glaucoma with prescription medications, laser or conventional surgery.

Corneal Diseases and Conditions with symptoms that often include redness, watery eyes, pain, problems with vision, or a halo effect of the vision. Depending on the condition, there are a variety of treatments that range from a simple eyeglass prescription or eye drops to surgery or a corneal transplant using PTK for more severe cases.

Dry Eye, a condition caused when the eye can’t produce enough tears. Patients experience itching, burning, or even some vision loss. Dry eye is more common as people get older, especially for women.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. AMD is a disease of the macula – a part of the retina responsible for fine central vision. At one time, there were no treatments for AMD. Today, the disease’s progression can be slowed and even stopped with ocular injections.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness.  Diabetic retinopathy can develop slowly with no early warning signs. Along with controlling blood sugar, regular eye exams at Florida Eye Associates are essential to diabetic care. Early diagnosis is key to maintaining sight.

Retinal Detachment, a condition that occurs when the retina separates from the back of the eye. This is a medical emergency where timing is critical. Seek treatment immediately if you experience a sudden loss of vision or a “curtain effect” in which your vision is partially obscured.

Low Vision which occurs when eyesight cannot be improved with simple glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. There are many low vision aids available that can improve the quality of life for patients suffering with low vision.

“OLD SCHOOL” WORK VALUES MATCH WELL WITH “OLD SCHOOL” PATEINTS
Many employees have been with Florida Eye Associates for 10, 15 and even 20 years. This continuity and teamwork help Florida Eye deliver the highest quality of care and operate as a cohesive group practice.

“Florida Eye Associates is one big family,” says Dr. Broussard.  “Everyone here cares about each other and about every one of our patients. It is one of the keys to our success.”

Employees from front desk to the surgery table embody a strong work ethic and commitment to patient satisfaction – even if it means staying after hours. Florida Eye Associates’ physicians cover general ophthalmology, optometry and many subspecialties.

A CLEAR TECHNICAL EDGE

Florida Eye Associates is committed to investing in the latest technology for all of our facilities. Some of the most notable include:

• Ambulatory Surgery Center of Brevard, a state-of-the-art, single specialty surgery center which means the center, equipment and staff are dedicated to performing procedures on the eyes.
• Hearing Center at Florida Eye Associates, a full service hearing aid dispensary with state-of-the-art hearing instruments, testing equipment and a versatile lab for cleanings and repairs.
• A LASIK suite equipped with an Advanced Excimer laser and IntraLase LASIK for phenomenal precision, control and safety for treating nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism and 100 percent blade-free LASIK technology.

Florida Eye Associates provides full service eye care including complete eye exams, eye surgeries, cosmetic eyelid surgery, optician and hearing services. With locations in Cocoa Beach, Eau Gallie, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Port St. John and Viera, Florida Eye Associates is convenient to aging eyes across Brevard County.