Glaucoma Treatment Ephrata, PA

If you have glaucoma and are wondering about nearby physicians, glaucoma treatment for Ephrata, PA is close by at the Wyomissing office of Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. We can fulfill all your eye care needs.

Our practice has a tremendous reputation. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians treat glaucoma and other eye diseases. Our surgeons are trained on the latest glaucoma treatments and surgical procedures. We have minimized the irreversible effects of the disease for thousands of patients.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma patients suffer an increase in the eye’s internal eye pressure; over time, that pressure causes loss of sight. There are two common forms of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and takes several years to progress to the point where patients notice any significant vision loss. Regular eye exams are the only way for our doctors to detect the optic nerve damage that is the main indicator of the disease.

Angle-closure glaucoma develops much more quickly and is much rarer. There is a rapid onset of symptoms like sudden severe eye pain, headache and vomiting. If you experience a sudden onset of any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention at your nearest emergency room.

Glaucoma means gradual, painless vision loss. It’s a hallmark sign. You may first notice that your peripheral vision is affected, and over time, central vision is also affected. You may experience tunnel vision or see halos or have blurred vision. One of the primary risk factors for glaucoma is increased intraocular pressure (IOP), but not everyone with high IOP will develop glaucoma.

Glaucoma Treatment

Regular eye exams are the best way to detect glaucoma. We look for changes in the appearance of the optic nerve. If our doctors detect the disease, we will determine how far your glaucoma has progressed. Several additional factors help us determine the best course of treatment: other health conditions, age, ethnicity and lifestyle factors.

Rest assured that our expert eye doctors will find the right glaucoma treatment for you, whether that be prescription eye drops, medications or surgery.

Medications can treat early open-angle glaucoma, and laser surgery is effective when the disease is in its later stages. Laser surgery involves use of a laser beam to create small opening to change the eye’s natural drainage system. These openings allow the eye’s fluid to more easily flow, creating better drainage and reducing the eye’s internal (intraocular) pressure.

Sometimes glaucoma has progressed to a stage where the laser technique will not adequately reduce pressure. In these cases, the doctor will likely perform a more conventional surgery known as trabeculectomy.

Trabeculectomy, also known as filtration surgery, is often used to treat both open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma. The surgeon creates a passageway in the white tissue of the eye (sclera). This passageway creates a new drainage path for the excess eye fluid to better flow. Eye pressure is thus reduced.

Come See Us

If you are a patient with a glaucoma diagnosis, or just suspect you may have it, regular eye care is extremely important. Don’t wait for your disease to worsen and lead to blindness. Come see us at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for early diagnosis and treatment. For Ephrata, PA, care is close by in our Wyomissing office. We await your call.