Eye Disease Management
Eye Disease Diagnosis and Management in Phoenix
Optometry is not only about glasses. A substantial part of what we do is finding, treating and monitoring disease, and Arizona optometrists are licensed to diagnose ocular conditions and prescribe the medications that treat them.
Dr. Nguyen leads our ocular disease care, with training focused specifically on this. Dr. Sincennes brings corneal and surgical co-management experience from a combined OD/MD practice and a Veterans Affairs clinic.
The recurring theme across the serious conditions is silence. Glaucoma, early macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy do not hurt and do not blur until late. That is the entire reason for scheduled monitoring rather than symptom-driven visits.
Conditions we manage
- Glaucoma
- Progressive optic nerve damage, usually with raised eye pressure. Painless and takes peripheral vision first. We diagnose it, monitor with pressure checks, optic nerve imaging and visual fields, and prescribe pressure-lowering drops. Referral for laser or surgery when drops are insufficient.
- Macular degeneration
- We diagnose and stage it, monitor with imaging, and advise on the modifiable risk factors that genuinely matter. Suspected wet AMD is referred urgently, because the treatment window for injections is time-critical.
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Annual documented retinal examination, staging, and coordination with your physician. Referral to a retinal specialist when treatment is indicated.
- Dry eye disease
- Diagnosed by type and treated accordingly rather than with generic drops. Covered fully on our dry eye page.
- Blepharitis and lid disease
- Chronic lid margin inflammation, very common and frequently the underlying driver of dry eye. Treatable and often mismanaged for years.
- Conjunctivitis and ocular infection
- Diagnosed and treated, including distinguishing bacterial, viral and allergic causes, which need entirely different treatment.
- Uveitis and iritis
- Inflammation inside the eye. Painful, sight-threatening, and often associated with systemic autoimmune conditions. Needs prompt treatment.
- Corneal disease
- Including keratoconus, dystrophies, scarring and recurrent erosion.
Glaucoma monitoring in detail
Glaucoma deserves specific attention because it is the condition where careful monitoring most clearly changes outcomes, and where the disease is most effective at hiding.
Vision lost to glaucoma does not come back. Treatment halts or slows further damage, which means every month of delay in detection is permanent. Around half of people with glaucoma are undiagnosed, because peripheral loss is filled in by the brain and never noticed.
- Intraocular pressure measured at each visit, and at different times of day where readings are borderline, since pressure fluctuates
- Optic nerve head assessment and imaging, documented for comparison across years
- Visual field testing to detect functional loss and track its progression
- Corneal thickness measurement, which affects how pressure readings should be interpreted
- Assessment of the drainage angle to determine the type of glaucoma
- Regular review of whether the current treatment is holding, with escalation when it is not
Working with specialists
Some conditions need a surgeon or a retinal specialist, and knowing when to refer is part of the job. We refer promptly rather than managing something past the point where we should.
What we do that a referral alone does not is stay involved. You keep your relationship with a practice that knows your history, and we handle the monitoring between specialist visits rather than leaving you to drive across the valley for every pressure check.
For patients in Ahwatukee and the south east valley, that difference is practical rather than theoretical. Ongoing care close to home with specialist input when it is genuinely needed is a better arrangement than either extreme.
Medical versus vision insurance
This confuses almost everyone and it is worth explaining clearly.
A vision plan covers routine eye examinations and an allowance toward glasses or contacts. Medical insurance covers the diagnosis and treatment of disease. If you come in for a routine exam and we find glaucoma, subsequent glaucoma monitoring is a medical service and bills to your medical insurance, not your vision plan.
This is not a practice choosing how to bill. It is how the coverage is structured. We verify both and explain which applies to what before your visit, so there are no surprises.
Who this is for
- Anyone diagnosed with glaucoma or identified as a glaucoma suspect
- Patients with macular degeneration needing monitoring
- Anyone with diabetes requiring annual retinal assessment
- People with a red, painful or inflamed eye
- Patients with chronic dry eye or blepharitis
- Anyone with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration
- Patients wanting disease monitoring close to home between specialist visits
Our process
Every patient goes through the same sequence, so you always know what happens next.
- 1
Comprehensive assessment
Full eye examination with attention directed by your history and risk factors.
- 2
Diagnostic testing
Imaging, visual fields, pressure and corneal measurements appropriate to the suspected condition.
- 3
Diagnosis and staging
We tell you what you have, how advanced it is, and what it means in plain language.
- 4
Treatment
Medication prescribed where appropriate, with clear instructions and realistic expectations.
- 5
Monitoring schedule
A defined follow-up interval based on your condition and risk, not a vague suggestion to come back sometime.
- 6
Referral and coordination
Prompt specialist referral where needed, with ongoing monitoring handled here.
Related care
- Diabetic Eye ExamsDiabetic retinopathy is painless until it is advanced. Annual dilated or Optomap retinal exams in Ahwatukee, with reports sent to your physician.
- Senior Eye ExamsAnnual eye exams for adults over 60 in Ahwatukee. Glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataract found early, when treatment still preserves vision.
- Optomap Retinal ImagingSee over 80% of your retina in one image, without dilation drops. A permanent record that makes year-over-year change visible in Ahwatukee.
Eye Disease Management questions, answered
Can an optometrist prescribe eye medication?
Yes. Arizona optometrists are licensed to diagnose ocular disease and prescribe medications to treat it, including glaucoma drops, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Conditions needing surgery are referred to an ophthalmologist.
Optometrist or ophthalmologist for eye disease?
For diagnosis, monitoring and medical management of most conditions, an optometrist is entirely appropriate and usually more accessible. For surgery, injections into the eye, and complex or advanced disease, an ophthalmologist is needed. Many patients are best served by both, which is what co-management means.
How often will I need to be seen for glaucoma?
Typically every three to six months, depending on stage, pressure control and whether the disease is stable. Newly diagnosed or unstable glaucoma is monitored more closely. The interval is set by your measurements, not by a standard schedule.
Will my medical insurance cover this?
Diagnosis and management of eye disease is a medical service and generally bills to medical insurance rather than a vision plan. We verify your coverage and explain what applies before treatment.
I was told I am a glaucoma suspect. What does that mean?
It means one or more findings raise concern, perhaps raised pressure, an unusual optic nerve appearance or family history, but there is not yet definite damage. It means monitoring rather than treatment in most cases. Being a suspect is a reason for regular follow-up, not a diagnosis.
Can eye disease be cured?
Some conditions, like most infections, resolve completely with treatment. Chronic conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration are managed rather than cured. Management is genuinely effective: most glaucoma patients diagnosed and treated in time retain useful vision for life.
Book an appointment with a doctor who has time for you
We schedule 2 patients an hour, so your exam is unhurried and your questions get answered. Most patients are seen within a few days.