Myasthenia gravis. Optic neuropathy. Multiple sclerosis. Stroke. Intracranial hypertension. Movement disorders. According to a study published in The Lancet Neurology, more than 3 billion people around the world are living with neurological problems. And a subset of those patients will develop a debilitating vision disturbance or even blindness.
Problems with the optic nerve, which are the bundles of nerve fibers that send visual signals from each eye to the brain, are best evaluated and treated by a neuro-ophthalmologist at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute.
Other conditions that can impact the function of the optic nerve include thyroid eye disease, optic neuropathy, brain tumors and traumatic brain injuries, autoimmune diseases, stroke and migraine.
Maria Vera Silva, M.D.
“When the cause of a vision problem is not the eye itself, but involves the nervous system, my role is to determine what is happening with the optic pathway,” said neuro-ophthalmologist Maria Vera Silva, M.D., with Miami Neuroscience Institute. “Then we can best decide how to treat the problem so that vision can be improved or so that we can slow or stop the progression of vision decline.”
Dr. Vera Silva received her medical degree from the University of Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela. At IVSS Hospital Miguel Perez Carreño in Caracas, she completed an ophthalmology residency and was chief resident. Following an internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic Florida, where she was chief neurology resident, she completed a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System.
The addition of Dr. Vera Silva and other specialists to the Institute is part of an ongoing expansion of the organization. With an arsenal of innovative treatments and equipment in the hands of top physicians, the Institute can provide sophisticated care close to home for even the most complex conditions.
Symptoms that warrant a referral to Dr. Vera Silva include:
- Blurry vision, particularly when it is unilateral
- Flashing lights or black spots in the visual field
- Visual hallucinations
- Sudden dimmed or darkened vision
- Eye pain that is worsened by eye movement
Patients will undergo an extensive eye examination and neurological tests. They may also have imaging studies performed.
“The connection between the brain and the eyes is complex, but we are fortunate to be able to pinpoint problems causing damage to the optic nerve. Treatment will depend upon the cause and can range from monitoring the situation, to infusions or oral medications to surgery,” she said.
Optic nerve damage is largely unpreventable, but many of the conditions that put a person at risk for cardiovascular disease could put them at higher risk for an optic nerve problem. She advises patients to maintain a healthy weight, don’t smoke or use tobacco products, manage high blood pressure or high cholesterol and exercise regularly.
Patients with a known neurological health condition should be made aware of the symptoms of optic nerve problems so that they can seek care sooner rather than later, as some conditions can progress rapidly.
Dr. Vera Silva is fluent in English, Spanish and Spanish-Creole, and sees patients at Miami Neuroscience Institute, 8950 North Kendall Dr., Suite 410W, Miami, FL 33176. She is also happy to discuss a patient with any doctor who has concerns.
