Brought to you by Dr. Geoffrey M. Kwitko
Rhonda Ambrosio feels lucky to have her sense of sight because she is certain it should be gone. About 10 years ago, Rhonda was diagnosed with Graves’ disease. This is a common type of hyperthyroidism that occurs when the immune system malfunctions and attacks the thyroid gland, resulting in overproduction of the hormone thyroxine. Higher levels of thyroxine in the body can manifest in the form of many symptoms.
Rhonda ended up having her thyroid gland removed altogether because her condition worsened.
“I had huge, bulging eyes that wouldn’t close,” she says. “It was traumatic, and I couldn’t get past it.”
“My regular eye doctor said, There’s only one man I think you should see, and he’s the guru of thyroid eye disease,” Rhonda recalls. “So I went to see Dr. Kwitko in order to maintain my eyesight.”
Geoffrey M. Kwitko, M.D., is board-certified and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic and neuro-ophthalmic surgery. Dr. Kwitko first treated the swelling around Rhonda’s eyes with steroids. At this point, she also needed a series of urgent surgeries.
“The eye muscles were expanding, putting pressure on the optic nerve,” Dr. Kwitko explains. “Had Rhonda not undergone surgery, she would have gone blind.”
Dr. Kwitko performed both eyelid retraction repair on the upper and lower eyelids and orbital decompression surgeries. Rhonda says she was surprised by how simple the process was.
Dr. Kwitko wants to make sure patients like Rhonda know that they have a multitude of options available, especially if they are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease.
“Thyroid eye disease is a potentially blinding medical issue,” he adds, “but with the right treatment and follow-up, most of the problems can be prevented.”
As for being the “guru of thyroid eye disease,” Dr. Kwitko acknowledges that he probably sees more people with the condition than any other eye specialist in the area.
“I’m the only oculoplastic surgeon in town who also has expertise in orbital surgery and neuro-ophthalmology,” he shares. “My training is specific in regard to those fields.”
Rhonda’s eyelid and orbital decompression surgeries are among Dr. Kwitko’s many success stories.
“She can now close her eyes, and they no longer appear to be bulging out of the sockets,” says Dr. Kwitko.
Rhonda also reports feeling much more comfortable.
“No pain whatsoever,” she says. “Dr. Kwitko is responsible for saving my eyesight.”
The Clear Choice In Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
For over 28 years, Dr. Kwitko has brought world-class cosmetic eyelid surgery to Tampa. In addition, he specializes in thyroid eye disease, orbital diseases, tearing problems and dry eye syndrome. To schedule your consultation with Tampa’s most trusted eyelid surgeon, call (813) 877-8665.
