Glaucoma Specialist in Lititz, PA

When was your last dilated eye exam? If you can’t remember, you probably need one. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect eye diseases like glaucoma. At Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, we can perform the eye exam and if you are in Lititz PA and need a glaucoma specialist, we can treat you at our nearby Lancaster office.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases. Scientists are still studying the exact causes of glaucoma, and research conducted to date has definitely led to earlier detection of the disease as well as better treatments.

People with glaucoma usually have no initial symptoms. Left untreated, the disease can cause vision loss and eventual blindness. Diagnosis is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam, and there are a number of treatments depending on the type and severity of glaucoma.

The most common form of glaucoma is the open-angle form. In this type of glaucoma, fluid passes too slowly through the spongy drainage network of the eye. As a result, fluid builds up and the pressure inside the eye rises. Over time, the high pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss.

Glaucoma is on the rise. By 2050, 6.3 million Americans are expected to have glaucoma. This number is a tripling of the cases from 2010 (2.7 million Americans).

Who is at risk?

US data over the last decade has shown that white Americans have the majority of glaucoma cases (at 66 percent), but 20 percent of black Americans are at risk, followed by 8 percent of Hispanics. Women are more likely than men to develop glaucoma and other age-related eye diseases, mainly because women have a longer life expectancy. In fact, women account for the majority (about 60 percent) of cases.

Glaucoma prevalence does increase with age. Black Americans are at the highest risk of developing the disease at the earliest age (40 years and older). Risk for all races increases after age 70 and is even higher at age 80.

At Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, we value an ongoing conversation with our patients regarding risk levels, eye exam results and so much more. Here are some questions we encourage our newly diagnosed glaucoma patients to ask:

• How often do I need an eye exam?
• What type of glaucoma do I have?
• What is the outlook for my vision?
• What are my treatment options? How do I know if the treatment is working? Are there side effects?
• What happens if I don’t get treated?
• Does having glaucoma put me at risk for other eye diseases or other health conditions?

Even though there is no cure for glaucoma, there is still good news because it can be treated. Early detection is key so that we can start early treatment to stop damage and protect your vision.

Take the first step. Give us a call today. If you are in Lititz PA, your glaucoma specialist is in nearby Lancaster. We want you to be our next new patient. Let’s have a conversation about your eye health, and keep that conversation going. Give us a call today at 610-378-8500 or visit our Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania website to schedule an appointment.