The Eye Institute Of West Florida

Glaucoma | Surgery and Drops

Are you looking for a Glaucoma Treatment Center in Largo, Clearwater, St. Petersburg or Tampa?

The Eye Institute of West Florida has two board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologists and an optometrist, all with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States and the most common among African-Americans.

Our team offers patients compassionate care in a comfortable environment. Visit any of our six locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Largo and Clearwater to experience how we treat patients and their family members.

schedule an evaluation Call (727) 581-8706

Amy Z. Martino, M.D.

Schedule your glaucoma consulation with Dr. Amy Martino below by selecting a time at the location you want to be seen.

About Glaucoma

Often referred to as The Silent Thief of Sight

Glaucoma is a general term used to describe a group of diseases all having the common characteristic of pressure within the eye that is associated with ongoing damage. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in America.

In the front of the eye there is a watery fluid which nourishes the cornea and other important eye parts of the eye. Under normal circumstances this fluid constantly flows into and out of the eye in perfect balance.

In glaucoma the out flow of fluid is blocked and this causes the pressure inside the eye to rise. When the pressure becomes too high, it causes damage to the delicate optic nerve which is responsible for carrying visual images to the brain.

How is Glaucoma treated?

Treatment usuall begins with laser surgery, which helps to lower pressure by cleaning the blocked drain. The next phase of treatment is with medicated drops which help to lower the pressure by decreasing the amount of fluid coming in the eye or by increasing the amount of fluid leaving the eye. When these treatments are not successful, surgical intervention is recommended.

Is surgery an option?

Based upon the amount of damage present, your physician must determine just what pressure level is safe for each individual patient (target pressure): the more damage present, the lower the pressure needs to be to prevent further damage.

Surgical intervention is recommended once laser and medical therapy have not adequately controlled the intraocular pressure. However, there are a few cases which surgical intervention is recommended earlier on in the course of treatment.

Risk Factors of Glaucoma

With no obvious symptoms, it is important to understand your risk factors of getting glaucoma. You have a higher than normal risk if you:

Are over the age of 40?
Have a family member with glaucoma?
Are African-American, Hispanic or Asian?
Have high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines or poor blood circulation?
Are nearsighted or farsighted?
Have had an eye injury
Use long-term steroid medications
Have corneas that are thin in the center
Have a thinning optic nerve

The only way to tell you to have glaucoma is to have a complete eye exam at least every one to two years. Detection of glaucoma may go undetected unless properly diagnosed by a physician.

Still interested in learning more?

When you are choosing where you will have your glaucoma surgery and treatment regimen, we are available to consult you on your options. Give us a call at 727-581-8706 to schedule your consultation.

If you are interested in reading more the different types of glaucoma and treatment options including drops and surgery, please refer to the following pages:

Choose The Eye Institute of West Florida for your glaucoma treatment to get the best vision results possible.

Last modified on October 10th, 2023 at 9:18 am

"I have medical conditions that make working with me a challenge. Dr. Schwartz takes into account my whole body not just my eyes. I have allergies and with some surgeries, I have had bad reactions. Brian caught the allergies and did what could to make me as comfortable without anything for surgery. Kim sat next to me and held my hand. Dr. Schwartz was great and gave me a break during the surgery, plus gave me more drops to numb my eye. Dr. Schwartz, Brian, and Kim were great. Please let them know what a great job they did under trying time."

Gail – Glaucoma Patient

Meet Your Glaucoma Care Specialists

Amy Z. Martino, M.D. completed her glaucoma fellowship at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Health System and School of Medicine, the #1 eye hospital and vision research center in the country. She was the first doctor in Hillsborough County to implant the Hydrus microstent for glaucoma and one of the first surgeons in Florida selected to implant the glaucoma iStent® device, the world’s smallest medical implant. Her surgical talents include glaucoma lasers and specialized glaucoma surgeries (such as trabeculectomies and glaucoma drainage devices). Dr. Martino is also a staff physician at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, where she takes pride in serving those who have served our country. As a graduate of the University of South Florida, she enjoys giving lectures to the current ophthalmology residents. She volunteers her time through the Eye Care America program and Catholic Charities Medical Missions to help underprivileged patients receive eye care.

Nora L. Cothran, O.D. is a board-certified optometric physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Dr. Cothran received her Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.

She went on to complete her residency in Ocular Disease at the renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, FL.

In 2016, she joined The Eye Institute of West Florida, where she provides comprehensive eye exams and superior glaucoma care.

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