Christine Funke, MD

"Dr. Christine Funke M.D. is a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist who enjoys caring for a multitude of eye conditions including glaucoma, visually significant cataracts, diabetes, dry eye, and routine eye care. She grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and studied biology at the University of Notre Dame. After her undergraduate education, she earned her medical degree at Rush Medical College and completed her residency in Cleveland, Ohio at Case Western Reserve University. During her tenure at Case Western, Dr. Funke co-founded the University Eye Hospitals Alumni Association, was the representative to the Mid-Year Forum for the Women in Ophthalmology Society, spoke at numerous conferences and was active on a myriad of research projects and publications. She authored a chapter on alternative therapies for glaucoma treatment and has an interest in the effects of exercise and herbal therapy on eye pressure and vision. After completing her residency, she studied glaucoma at the prestigious University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. During her fellowship training, she enjoyed caring for patients with advanced, complex glaucoma. Dr. Funke is an active member of The American Academy of Ophthalmology, The American Glaucoma Society, Women in Ophthalmology Society, Chicago Women in Ophthalmology group and Chicago Glaucoma Society. “Furthering my education and keeping current on surgical techniques is extremely important as a practicing physician. Being a member of these societies helps to ensure you are continuing to grow your armamentarium to treat eye disease.”

Dr. Funke specializes in state of the art minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, trabeculotomies, tube implants, glaucoma laser surgery, complex cataract surgery, and combined cataract/glaucoma surgery,

“I gravitated towards the subspecialty of glaucoma because it is a challenging disease that needs lifelong monitoring. This gives me the opportunity to create relationships with my patients as I care for their disease.”

Dr. Funke is Board Certified in Ophthalmology."

"Southwestern Eye Center was established in 1982 in Mesa, Arizona, by Dr. Lothaire Bluth. For more than 35 years, the practice has grown and continues to offer world-class technology and down-to-earth values.

Dr. Bluth pioneered the concept of bringing the doctor to the patient and bringing comprehensive eye care to rural and underserved areas throughout Arizona. On a given morning, three to four airplanes take Southwestern Eye Center ophthalmologists and their crews to outlying offices and ambulatory surgery centers where operations for cataracts, retinal disease, glaucoma, and oculoplastics are performed on those who are unable to travel to or afford care in larger metropolitan centers. Offering outpatient surgical procedures locally allows patients to receive superior and more convenient care at a fraction of the cost the same procedures required in a metropolitan or hospital setting.

More recently, Southwestern Eye Center partnered with Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center as a founding practice in the American Vision Partners network. We will continue to operate all of our centers with the same level of quality you expect, and you will work with the same doctors and staff you have always trusted for your ophthalmology needs."