Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo, MD is an Ophthalmologist dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive ophthalmologic care for older adults at his Destin, FL clinic. He is a registered member of The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Dr. Leoncavallo understands the unique needs of seniors and focuses on expertly managing complex eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. He collaborates closely with primary care physicians and other specialists to ensure the best possible vision and overall health outcomes for his patients. He is committed to the well-being of those 65 years and older, and is dedicated to providing the best possible care within his practice.
General ophthalmologists provide comprehensive eye care for seniors, expertly managing complex conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, working collaboratively with your primary care physician and other specialists to ensure your best possible vision and overall health. Dr. Leoncavallo, having a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care, is well-equipped to address these needs. He earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 2008, followed by residency training in ophthalmology at the University of Florida, specializing in the comprehensive medical care of individuals 65 years and older. Dr. Leoncavallo's experience includes fellowship training in Glaucoma, earning the University of Florida Department of Ophthalmology Resident of the Year Award (2011-2012). His professional memberships include the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is Board Certified in Ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology. His primary clinical interests encompass glaucoma, cataract surgery, and general ophthalmology. He is not currently accepting new patients, but you can call (850) 650-6550 to inquire about waitlists or future openings. Dr. Leoncavallo offers consultations in German.
With over 15 years of dedicated experience in ophthalmologic care, Dr. Leoncavallo brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care to his patients and their families. His background includes working as an engineer for General Electric and Robert Bosch Corporation prior to medical school, followed by graduation from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. His "Your vision is my mission" philosophy reflects his commitment to providing the highest quality care, ensuring that seniors maintain their vision and overall well-being.
A cornerstone of effective senior care is a strong patient-provider partnership. Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on holistic strategies to protect health and enhance quality of life.
Dr. Leoncavallo is a dedicated partner in your senior eye health journey, providing comprehensive ophthalmologic care with a compassionate touch. He expertly manages complex conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, working collaboratively with your primary care physician and other specialists to ensure optimal vision and overall well-being. His approach prioritizes understanding your unique needs and goals, creating a personalized plan to maximize your comfort and independence.
By working together, you, your family, and Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Specific Plans Accepted
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Evolutions Healthcare Systems
PHCS
Also Accepts These Carriers
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of California
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Buckeye Community Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Choice Care PPO
- Curative
- Curative EPO
- Curative PPO
- Curative PPO Plus
- Dental Blue 100/200/300
- First Health
- First Health (Coventry Health Care)
- Health Net
- HealthyBlue 2.0
- Humana
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Midwest Health Plan
- MultiPlan
- MultiPlan PPO
- National (BlueCard) PPO
- Tricare
- United Healthcare
- UnitedHealthCare
Effective management of health is key to well-being in later life. Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo provides expert, compassionate care for a range of conditions common in older adults, with a focus on managing symptoms and maintaining function. Common areas of focus include:
- Hyphema: Hyphema is a bleeding in the front part of the eye, often causing blurry vision and eye pain, which can usually be managed with rest, medication, and monitoring to prevent vision loss.
- Dislocation of Lens: A dislocated eye lens means the lens inside your eye has moved out of place, causing blurry vision or double vision; thankfully, specialized eye surgery can often correct this.
- Anisocoria: Experiencing anisocoria, or uneven pupil sizes, might be concerning, but early detection through a simple eye exam can help your doctor determine the cause and provide necessary management to support your vision and overall health.
- Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a relatively common eye disorder that involves fluid leaking beneath the retina, leading to vision problems which often resolve without needing major intervention.
- Lacrimal Gland Disorder: Tear gland issues can make your eyes feel dry, irritated, or overly watery. Thankfully, many effective treatments are available to manage these problems and ensure your comfort and vision remain as good as possible.
- Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: If you're experiencing sudden vision loss, it could be anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), a condition where the optic nerve isn't getting enough blood. Focusing on managing any related health issues is crucial for slowing progression and protecting sight.
- Retinal Vascular Occlusion: Reduced blood flow to the retina, a condition called retinal vascular occlusion, can affect vision, but treatments such as medication or surgery can help to manage the condition and improve quality of life.
- Pinguecula: A pinguecula is a common, usually painless, yellowish lump that may appear on the white part of the eye, mostly caused by sun exposure over time; it usually doesn't affect vision and doesn't require treatment unless it becomes inflamed.
- Retinal Detachment: Experiencing sudden flashes of light, floaters (spots or strings in your vision), or a curtain-like effect over your vision could indicate a retinal detachment, requiring immediate medical attention for preservation of sight.
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetes that causes swelling in the macula, the part of your eye responsible for sharp, central vision, making everyday tasks like reading and driving more challenging, but treatments like injections can often significantly improve vision.
- Dry Eyes: Experiencing dry, gritty eyes is a common problem among seniors, often impacting quality of life. Treatment may involve over-the-counter or prescription eye drops, humidifiers, and adjustments to daily routines to ease dryness and improve comfort.
- Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Wet AMD involves abnormal blood vessel growth in the macula, causing blurry or distorted vision; however, timely injections can often prevent further vision loss.
This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional based on your specific health history.
To provide comprehensive and person-centered care, Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and support the health of older adults:
- Goniotomy: Goniotomy helps your ophthalmologist assess the angle where your iris meets the cornea, providing valuable information for diagnosing and treating glaucoma.
- Orbit Evisceration: Orbit evisceration is a surgical procedure to remove the contents of the eye socket, sometimes necessary to manage severe eye injuries or untreatable eye diseases in seniors.
- Tear Duct Surgery: For seniors experiencing persistent watery eyes due to tear duct issues, surgery offers a potential solution to improve vision and reduce discomfort.
- Eye Procedure: Many eye procedures aim to manage or even reverse vision loss, restoring independence and improving your ability to enjoy daily activities.
- Intraocular Lens Implant Surgery: For seniors experiencing vision problems due to cataracts, intraocular lens implant surgery is a safe and effective way to restore clear vision and improve overall well-being.
- Eyelid Surgery: As part of a comprehensive senior care plan, eyelid surgery can address cosmetic concerns and improve self-esteem.
- YAG Laser Capsulotomy: Following cataract surgery, a YAG laser capsulotomy can help restore clear vision by addressing a common complication, ensuring the best possible outcome.
- Repair of Eye Laceration: As part of comprehensive senior care, repairing an eye laceration aims to quickly restore the eye's structure and function, minimizing long-term complications.
- Dilation of Outflow Canal: Opening up the eye's drainage system is sometimes used to improve the effectiveness of other glaucoma treatments, preserving vision in the long term.
- Contact Lens Fitting Services: Contact lens fitting helps determine the best lens type and prescription for clear vision, improving a senior's quality of life and independence.
- Vision Screening: Vision screening helps ensure your glasses prescription is accurate, improving your comfort and quality of life, and catching potential problems early.
- Retina and Vitreous Surgery: Retina and vitreous surgery helps diagnose and treat serious eye conditions like macular degeneration and retinal tears, improving vision and quality of life for seniors.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Ophthalmologies in Florida.
Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo is dedicated to partnering with older adults and their families to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how compassionate care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- After experiencing blurry vision and eye pain, a senior was able to return to their beloved hobby of reading, thanks to the ophthalmology's guidance in managing their hyphema. The family felt immense relief knowing their loved one's vision was improving and they could resume their daily activities.
- After specialized eye surgery to address a dislocated lens, a senior citizen was thrilled to rediscover the joy of reading again, easily distinguishing the words on the page without the frustrating blur.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors specific to each person. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Practice
3801 E Highway 98 Ste 100100, Port St. Joe, FL, 32456
Phone: (850) 229-5752
View on Map
- HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital Port St. Lucie (Residency Hospital)
- American Board of Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology)
- Comparing Glaucomatous Disc Change Using Stereo Disc Viewing and the MatchedFlickeru00ae Software Program in Ophthalmologists in Training, 2016-03-31
- Comparing glaucomatous disc change using stereo disc viewing and the MatchedFlicker programme in glaucoma experts and trainees, 2017-08-16
Here are answers to some common questions about Ophthalmologic care with Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo:
- What is an Ophthalmologist, and how are they different from an Optometrist?
- Dr. Leoncavallo is an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor specializing in all aspects of eye care, including surgery. Optometrists, on the other hand, provide primary vision care, such as eye exams and prescribing glasses, but are not medical doctors and do not perform surgery. Often, ophthalmologists and optometrists work together to provide comprehensive eye care.
- What are cataracts, and when should I have surgery?
- Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's natural lens, a very common part of aging. They can cause blurry vision, glare, and difficulty seeing at night. Dr. Leoncavallo typically recommends surgery when cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities like driving, reading, or watching TV.
- What are 'floaters,' and are they dangerous?
- Floaters are small specks or clouds that move in your field of vision. A gradual increase in floaters is a common part of aging. However, a sudden increase in floaters, especially with flashes of light, could signal a serious problem and requires immediate contact with Dr. Leoncavallo's office.
- What is a vitrectomy?
- A vitrectomy is a delicate surgical procedure performed on the back of the eye to remove the vitreous gel. This allows Dr. Leoncavallo to treat serious retinal conditions like retinal detachments, macular holes, and severe diabetic retinopathy, aiming to save or improve vision.
- What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition in seniors that affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. There are two types: dry AMD, which is more common and progresses slowly, and wet AMD, which is less common but can cause rapid vision loss. While there's no cure for dry AMD, vitamins can slow its progression. For wet AMD, injections in the eye are a highly effective treatment to preserve vision.
- Is cataract surgery safe?
- Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful procedures today. It involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial one, a quick outpatient procedure that can dramatically improve vision.
- What is dry eye, and how is it treated in seniors?
- Dry eye is a very common and uncomfortable condition for seniors, often caused by the eyes not producing enough quality tears. Treatment typically begins with over-the-counter artificial tears, but Dr. Leoncavallo can offer prescription eye drops, punctal plugs, or other therapies for persistent cases.
- My eyelids are drooping and making it hard to see. What can be done?
- Drooping eyelids, or ptosis, are common in seniors. If the drooping is affecting your vision, it's important to address it medically. Dr. Leoncavallo can perform a functional blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure to lift the eyelid and improve vision, often covered by insurance.
151 Regions Way Bldg 1
Destin FL 32541
Phone: (850) 650-6550
Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1992954259
Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by infoaging.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with healthcare partners for yourself or a loved one. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the provider named. Ophthalmologies like Dr. Anthony Leoncavallo are skilled in helping seniors and their families navigate their health journey. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.