Glaucoma Surgeon in Lititz, PA

Glaucoma is a complex disease characterized by optic nerve damage that leads to progressive loss of vision. There is currently no way to restore vision already lost to glaucoma, but the team at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania can help you with very successful treatments. One of those treatments is surgery, and if you are in Lititz PA, our glaucoma surgeon is nearby at our Lancaster office.

You’re not alone

If you have glaucoma, you are certainly not alone. Approximately three million Americans have glaucoma. There are several forms of the disease, but high internal eye pressure is the hallmark sign of all of them. Over time, the sustained increase in pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, and when that nerve is damaged, there is a disruption in the signals transmitted between the brain and the eye. The result is vision loss.

A person can definitely have high pressure inside the eye without ever developing glaucoma. Likewise, a person with normal eye pressure can still develop glaucoma. All forms of the disease are usually not seen in patients until they reach age 40, and patients are at increased risk over age 60. If you have a family history of any type of glaucoma, you are at increased risk of developing the disease.

Will I need surgery?

Our eye care team usually starts treatments with prescription eye drops, and may also prescribe other medications. These treatments are used in glaucoma’s early stages to reduce internal eye pressure. If these methods don’t work to lower pressure, surgery is often recommended.

Our surgeons perform two procedures. The first is a low-risk laser procedure known as laser trabeculoplasty that is performed in our office on an outpatient basis. The surgeon creates new passageways in the drainage area to allow better drainage of the internal eye fluid buildup. When drainage is better, the intraocular pressure is lowered. Laser trabeculoplasty is quite effective.

Certain patients are not good candidates for the laser procedure, and other times, the laser trabeculoplasty is done but does not significantly lower pressure. In these cases, our surgeons perform a more traditional form of glaucoma surgery which involves the creation of a new opening in the white part of the eye. Through this new opening, fluid can continuously drain to keep the internal eye pressure down.

After both surgeries, we prescribe eye drops to combat both infection and swelling. It is important to use these medications as prescribed, for several weeks, even if you have no complications. For the first two to four weeks after surgery, we restrict strenuous physical activities to allow the eyes time to heal.

Glaucoma surgeons ready to see you

Are you in Lititz PA? A glaucoma surgeon is ready to see you in Lancaster at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Remember: once glaucoma has started, any vision loss that has already occurred cannot be corrected. However, there is good news – our treatments are very effective at preventing any further vision loss.

Early diagnosis is key, so don’t wait. Call us today at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.