January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is considered a “silent” disease because there are few symptoms as it develops in the eye, so regular check ups and exams are very important.
Glaucoma develops when pressure inside the eye (the eye needs some pressure to stay inflated) becomes higher than the eye can tolerate. That added pressure slowly damages the optic nerve and causes loss of peripheral vision, or eventually all vision if left untreated. Unfortunately glaucoma does not cause obvious visual symptoms until very late in the disease. Although glaucoma is treatable, it can’t technically be cured and the damage can’t be reversed so early diagnosis and proper treatment is critical to ensure useful lifetime vision.
Dr. Kurt Schwiesow, MD
If diagnosed with glaucoma, it’s best if your primary eye care provider has a relationship with a fellowship trained glaucoma specialist such as Tower Clock Eye Center’s Dr. Kurt Schwiesow, MD. Dr. Schwiesow completed his glaucoma fellowship at University of Wisconsin-Madison and consults on patients referred from optometrists and ophthalmologists throughout Northeast Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. If you or your current eye care provider would like a glaucoma consultation, please call our office at 920 499-3102.
The key to glaucoma treatment is early detection, so be sure to visit your eye care provider regularly for a comprehensive dilated eye exam. When glaucoma is diagnosed early, there is a greater likelihood that simple noninvasive treatments can control the disease. Your optometrist has the training and experience to diagnose, treat and control eye pressure for most patients. If your pressures prove more difficult to control, however, referral to a fellowship trained glaucoma specialist such as Dr. Schwiesow may become necessary.
If treatment of your glaucoma requires surgery, an ophthalmology-specific surgery center will provide the most cost effective and cutting edge care. Tower Clock Surgery Center is focused specifically on surgical eye care, with the most efficient and highly trained technicians as well as the most effective glaucoma surgery options available. At Tower Clock Surgery Center you’ll pay less out-of-pocket with a higher level of care and more flexible scheduling when compared to area hospitals and multi-specialty surgery centers. We also accept nearly every insurance plan available in the area.
If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma and would like to work with a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist, ask for a referral from your optometrist or call us at 920 499-3102.
Tagged with: Best of the Bay, Dr. Kurt Schwiesow, Eye disease, glaucoma, glaucoma specialist
Posted in: Blog, Latest News, New Announcements
Last night Tower Clock Eye Center hosted a continuing medical education event where Dr. Annette Giangiacomo, MD, presented on glaucoma to nearly 30 area optometrists. The event also served as an open house for our new state-of-the-art Appleton surgery center.
Dr. Kurt Schwiesow, MD, presented to a large group of optometrists as part of a Continuing Medical Education event held last night in Oshkosh. Dr. Schwiesow, a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist, spoke on the latest advanced treatments for the disease, including iDose TR and Durysta.
Green Bay Office
1087 West Mason StShawano Office
229 East Green Bay StreetTower Clock Surgery Center
1077 West Mason StreetAppleton Office
3142 N. Richmond St.
