Tour Our New Eye Care Facility in Valdosta...
Spacious lobbies, advanced technology for complete eye care, board-certified physicians and a friendly, well-trained staff - what more could you ask for from Affinity's newest location? Take a photo tour of our new eye care facility, the Valdosta office of Dr. Scott Petermann, where our permanent, state-of-the-art LASIK machine steals the show!
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Dr. Scott Petermann, Affinity’s board-certified ophthalmologist offers the LASIK procedure without the hassle of repeated out of town trips. Dr. Petermann is a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston Salem and completed his residency at Emory in Atlanta. For more information about how this procedure greatly improves vision or to schedule a consultation, call (229)391-4509 or (229)391-4100.

Click here for the answers to frequently asked questions about Laser Vision Correction.

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Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation: A New Weapon in the Fight Against Glaucoma
Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) is an exciting development in the treatment of many
types of glaucoma. ECP is performed on an outpatient basis and is most frequently
done in conjunction with cataract surgery.
Learn more about this procedure

Ophthalmology
The Department of Ophthalmology at Affinity Health Group offers a wide range of testing services and surgical procedures in order to diagnose and treat eye diseases and to provide quality vision care. With offices in Tifton, Valdosta, and Douglas patients can choose the location that is most convenient for them. Surgical procedures are currently performed in the on-site surgical suite in the Valdosta office. However, Tiftarea residents may schedule their initial consultation, pre-op and follow up appointments in Tifton to reduce travel time.

The department's staff includes one board-certified ophthalmologist, who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and two board-certified optometrists, who are members of the American Academy of Optometry. The department also has certified ophthalmic assistants on staff. These technicians are certified by the National Contact Lens Examiners and the American Board of Opticians.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care and provides the full spectrum of eye care, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to complex and delicate eye surgery.  

An optometrist is a health care professional who is licensed to provide primary eye care services, such as examining and diagnosing eye diseases (cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases), examining, diagnosing and treating visual conditions ( nearsightedness , farsightedness , astigmatism ) and prescribing glasses, contact lenses and medications.

Eye Conditions and Procedures

Cataracts
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye's natural lens that interferes with light passing through the eye to the back of the eye (the retina). Aging and other factors cause cells in the eye's lens to clump together, forming these cloudy areas. Over time, cataracts typically result in blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Almost everyone will eventually develop cataracts as they grow older. Cataract formation occurs at different rates in different people and can affect one--or in most cases--both eyes.

Cataract Surgery

Purpose of the procedure
Currently, there is no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. Once they form, the only way to achieve clear vision again is through cataract surgery, which removes the cataracts from within the eye.

What to expect
In the past, cataract surgery was considered risky, required a lengthy hospital stay and was usually postponed for as long as possible. Today, cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few minutes. Since doctors usually will not remove cataracts in both eyes at the same time, you will be scheduled for two separate surgeries.

Before your surgery, you will be offered a sedative to help you relax. The area around your eyes will be cleaned, and a sterile drape will be applied around your eye. Eye drops or a local anesthetic will be used to numb your eye. When your eye is completely numb, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking during the procedure. A very small incision will be made, and a tiny ultrasonic probe will be used to break the cataract into microscopic particles using high-energy sound waves. The cataract particles will be suctioned away gently. Then, a folded, intra-ocular lens (IOL) will be inserted through the incision, unfolded and locked into permanent position. This lens replaces the natural lens of your eye. The incision is "self-sealing" and usually requires no stitches. It remains tightly closed by means of the natural outward pressure within the eye and heals fast.

You may go home soon after the surgery to relax for the rest of the day. (A family member or friend must accompany you on the day of your surgery to drive you home.) Everyone heals differently, but many patients notice improvement in their vision almost immediately after the procedure. Most patients are able to resume their normal activities within a day or two. Follow-up visits with your doctor will be required. Your prescription for glasses will be changed at the appropriate time.

Refractive Surgical Procedures

Laser Vision Correction
Laser vision correction is a procedure that improves your vision by permanently changing the shape of your cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) with a laser. Often referred to as LASIK (an acronym for the medical term laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis ), it is the most commonly performed type of laser procedure and is an effective treatment for a wide range of vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

For more information about LASIK, please click here to learn the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Refractive Lensectomy

Purpose of the procedure
As we age, the lens inside our eye loses its ability to focus both near and far. Most vision correction procedures attempt to change the focusing power of the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) . However, refractive lensectomy corrects nearsightedness or farsightedness by replacing your eye's natural lens--which has the wrong power--with an artificial intra-ocular lens (IOL) implant that has the correct power for your eye.

Refractive lensectomy is a surgical procedure that uses the same techniques of modern cataract surgery. However, the primary difference between cataract surgery and refractive lensectomy is that cataract surgery is performed to remove a cataract that is obstructing and clouding your vision, while refractive lensectomy is performed to reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. This procedure may be an option for you if you are not a good candidate for LASIK.

What to expect
Refractive lensectomy is performed on an outpatient basis. Only one eye will be treated at a time. Once your eye is completely numbed with topical or local anesthesia, the natural lens will be gently removed through a tiny incision about one-eighth of an inch wide. The new, intra-ocular lens will be folded and inserted through the incision. It will then be unfolded and placed into the capsular bag, which originally surrounded the natural lens. As with cataract surgery, the incision is "self-sealing" and usually requires no stitches. It remains tightly closed by means of the natural outward pressure within the eye and heals fast.

You may go home soon after the surgery and relax for the rest of the day. (A family member or friend must accompany you on the day of your surgery to drive you home.) Everyone heals differently, but many patients notice improvement in their vision almost immediately after the procedure. Most patients resume their normal activities within a day or two. Several follow-up visits with your doctor will be required.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which damage to the nerve located in the back of the eye (optic nerve) results in the loss of vision. Peripheral vision is usually lost first, and if glaucoma is not treated, vision loss may continue--leading to total blindness over time.

There are different types of glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma , the most common type, the optic nerve is slowly damaged, usually causing gradual loss of vision. The eye receives its nourishment from a clear fluid that circulates inside the eye. This fluid must be continually returned to the bloodstream through the eye's drainage canal (called the trabecular meshwork). In the case of open-angle glaucoma, something has gone wrong with the drainage canal. The fluid cannot drain fast enough, and pressure inside the eye begins to build. This excess fluid pressure pushes against the delicate optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. If the pressure remains too high for too long, irreversible vision loss can occur. Although open-angle glaucoma cannot be cured, it usually can be controlled, and vision loss may be minimized with early treatment.

In narrow -angle glaucoma (also called closed-angle glaucoma), eye pressure usually builds rapidly. This occurs when the drainage canal gets blocked or covered. The iris gets pushed against the lens of the eye, shutting off the drainage canal. Sometimes the lens and the iris may stick to each other, resulting in a sudden increase in pressure, usually in one eye. You may experience a feeling of fullness in your eye, along with redness, swelling and blurred vision. Narrow-angle glaucoma is much more rare than open-angle glaucoma.

Treatments for Glaucoma

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

Purpose of the procedure
Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), a relatively new laser treatment for open-angle glaucoma , uses short pulses of low-energy laser light to target melanin-containing cells in the trabecular meshwork. The purpose of the procedure is to help fluids drain out of the eye, reducing intra-ocular pressure that can cause damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision.

What to expect
SLT is performed on an outpatient basis. Drops will be used to numb your eye. When your eye is completely numb, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking. Your doctor will hold up a special lens to your eye, and a high-peak power beam of green light will be aimed at the lens and reflected onto the meshwork inside your eye. (You may see flashes of bright green or red light.) The laser will selectively target melanin-containing cells, resulting in increased fluid outflow. You will not feel any pain during the procedure, which takes 10 to 20 minutes.

Your eye pressure will be checked shortly after the procedure, and drops may be prescribed to relieve any soreness or swelling inside the eye. You may go home and relax for the rest of the day. (A family member or friend must accompany you on the day of your surgery to drive you home.) Follow-up visits are necessary to monitor your eye pressure. It may take a few weeks to see the full pressure-lowering effect of SLT. Most patients are able to resume their normal activities within a few days.

Filtration Surgery (Trabeculectomy)

Purpose of the procedure
Filtration surgery, also called trabeculectomy, is a treatment for different types of glaucoma, including open-angle and narrow-angle glaucoma . The procedure is often performed on patients who have not responded well to medication or laser treatments, such as SLT. Filtration surgery usually provides a dramatic reduction in pressure within the eye.

What to expect
The area around your eyes will be cleaned, and a sterile drape will be applied. You may also be given a sedative to help you relax. Your eye will be numbed with topical or local anesthesia. Using advanced microsurgical techniques and equipment, your doctor will create a tiny new channel between the inside of your eye and the outside of your eye. A small section of tissue will be removed, creating a channel to allow fluid to pass through the blocked drainage network onto the white (sclera) of the eye. The incision will be closed with small stitches and covered with the thin, outer tissue of the eye (called the conjunctiva). Blood vessels in the conjunctiva will carry away the draining fluid. To keep the drainage channel open, your doctor may apply a small dose of a chemotherapeutic agent to the new filter.

Your eye pressure will be checked shortly after the procedure, and drops may be prescribed to relieve any soreness or swelling inside the eye. You may go home and relax for the rest of the day. (A family member or friend must accompany you on the day of your surgery to drive you home.) Most patients are able to resume their normal activities within a few days. Follow-up visits are required to monitor your eye pressure. It may take a few weeks to see the full pressure-lowering effect of the procedure, and adjustments may need to be made to the filter during this time.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may develop, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts or glaucoma. All of these conditions may cause partial vision loss or even blindness. (Cataracts and glaucoma also affect people who do not have diabetes. Please see above for more information about these conditions.)

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes affects blood vessels throughout the body, particularly those in the kidneys and the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina (the layer that lines the back of the eye). The retina detects visual images and transmits them to the brain. Major blood vessels lie on the front portion of the retina. When these blood vessels are damaged due to diabetes, they may leak fluid or blood and grow scar tissue. This leakage affects the ability of the retina to detect and transmit images.

When retinopathy becomes advanced, new blood vessels grow in the retina. These new vessels are the body's attempt to replace the vessels that have been damaged by diabetes. However, these new vessels are not normal, and they may bleed and cause hazy vision--

sometimes resulting in complete loss of vision. The growth of abnormal blood vessels on the iris of the eye can also lead to glaucoma. In addition, diabetic retinopathy can cause your body to form cataracts more quickly. The new vessels may also damage the retina by forming scar tissue and pulling the retina away from its proper location (called retinal detachment). If left untreated, retinal detachment can lead to blindness.

Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy

Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation

Purpose of the procedure: Diabetic retinopathy does not usually impair vision until the development of long-term complications, including proliferative retinopathy (a condition in which abnormal new blood vessels rupture and bleed into the eye). When this advanced stage of retinopathy occurs, a procedure called pan-retinal photocoagulation is usually performed. During this procedure, a special laser is used to make tiny burns that seal the retina and stop vessels from growing and leaking. Hundreds of tiny spots of laser are placed in the retina to reduce the risk of hemorrhage and retinal detachment. The laser is used to destroy all of the dead areas of the retina where blood vessels have been closed. When these areas are treated with the laser, the retina stops forming new blood vessels, and those that are already present tend to decrease or disappear.

What to expect
Pan-retinal photocoagulation is usually performed without anesthesia, but some patients may prefer a local anesthetic. Before your procedure, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking. Your doctor will then begin laser treatment with a special laser. The laser treats the peripheral (outside) and middle portions of your retina.

Your vision will be blurred immediately after the procedure, but it will return to its pre-treatment level over time. You may go home and relax for the rest of the day. (A family member or friend must accompany you on the day of your surgery to drive you home.)   Most patients are able to resume their normal activities within a few days. Regular follow-up visits are required.

Testing Services

Flourescein Angiography
Fluorescein angiography is a clinical test used to diagnose retinal conditions by looking at blood circulation in the retina at the back of the eye. During the test, a harmless, orange-red dye (called Fluorescein) will be injected into a vein in your arm. The dye will travel through your body to the blood vessels in your retina. Your doctor will use a special camera with a green filter to flash a blue light into your eye and take photographs. He or she will analyze the pictures to identify any damage to the lining of the retina or to detect the growth of new blood vessels. This test takes about 30 minutes.

Perimetry
Perimetry (or visual field testing) is a test that maps your field of vision. During the test, you will looking straight ahead into a white, bowl-shaped area and indicate when you are able to detect lights as they are brought into your field of vision. This map allows your doctor to see any pattern of peripheral (or side) vision changes caused by the early stages of glaucoma. This test takes about 15 minutes or less, and the results are extremely beneficial in diagnosing and managing glaucoma.

Topography
Corneal topography is a computer-assisted diagnostic tool that creates a three-dimensional map of the surface curvature of the cornea. The cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) is responsible for about 70 percent of the eye's focusing power. An eye with normal vision has an evenly rounded cornea. However, if the cornea is too flat, too steep or unevenly curved, less than perfect vision will occur. Corneal topography produces a detailed, visual description of the shape and power of the cornea. This type of analysis provides your doctor with information about the condition of the corneal surface, which can be used to diagnose, monitor and treat various eye injuries and diseases. This information can also be used to fit contact lenses and to help plan surgery, such as LASIK.

Corneal topography equipment consists of a computer linked to a lighted bowl that contains a pattern of rings. You will sit in front of the bowl with your head pressed against a bar while a series of data points are generated. Computer software digitizes these data points to produce a printout of the corneal shape, using different colors to identify different elevations. This test is brief and painless.

Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) uses light waves to create detailed images of underlying retinal structures. Using this information, doctors can diagnose, treat and manage glaucoma and retinal diseases.

Color Vision Testing
Color vision testing checks your ability to distinguish colors. During most color vision tests, you will look for different colored numbers or symbols that are hidden within various colored dots. This test is also used to screen for color blindness in patients with suspected retinal or optic nerve disease or who have a family history of color blindness, which is an inherited trait. Color vision tests only detect a deficiency, and additional testing is required to identify a specific problem.

Fundus Photography
During fundus photography, a highly specialized form of medical imaging, photographs are taken of the optic nerve, macula, retina and its blood vessels. These photographs can be beneficial in diagnosing certain eye conditions. Fundus photography uses a special camera with intricate lenses and mirrors that is mounted to a microscope.

Before the photographs are taken, your eyes will be dilated with drops to prevent the pupil from constricting (due to the bright light of the camera's flash.) You will be asked to stare at a fixation device so your eyes remain still. While your doctor is taking the pictures, you will see a series of bright flashes. This entire test usually takes five to ten minutes.  

Pachymetry
Pachymetry is a test that measures the thickness of the cornea. The thickness is determined using a device called a pachymeter, which uses ultrasound waves. Pachymetry is an essential measurement prior to certain refractive surgical procedures, such as LASIK. During these procedures, tissue is removed from the cornea, and pachymetry helps ensure that the cornea will retain enough central tissue thickness.

Well Visits
The Department of Ophthalmology at Affinity offers comprehensive eye examinations to promote the overall health of your eyes. During your visit, your doctor will check your vision to determine if you need glasses or contacts--or if you need a change in the strength of your prescription. He or she will also examine you for any eye conditions that may be causing any discomfort, such as pain, redness, itching or dryness, and prescribe the appropriate treatment and follow-up care. Seeing your doctor regularly for eye exams is essential to maintaining healthy eyes. Your doctor can monitor and manage any diseases that can affect your eyesight, including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration (a disease of the macula, an area of the retina at the back of the eye, which results in vision loss). With regular eye exams, your doctor may be able to help prevent vision loss resulting from these conditions. Or, in some cases where partial vision loss has already occurred, he or she may be able to prevent any further loss of vision.

Pediatric Eye Care
In addition to providing regular eye exams to check pediatric patients' vision and assess their need for glasses, the physicians at Affinity also evaluate and treat a wide range of pediatric eye conditions. Some conditions that are common in children include the following: refractive disorders (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism), infections, blocked tear ducts, ptosis (droopy eyelid), strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), eye injuries, juvenile glaucoma and cataracts and congenital malformations. Your child's physician will work closely with you and your child to monitor the condition and provide the appropriate treatment and follow-up care. In some cases, when a condition is severe or particularly bothersome, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.