Glaucoma Treatment in Lititz PA

Glaucoma in all its forms is a serious disease that should be taken seriously, but the good news is that there are many treatments that work well. If you are in Lititz PA and looking for glaucoma treatment, look no further than Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for all your diagnostic and treatment needs.

More about glaucoma’s progression

Glaucoma often has no warning signs or symptoms. A person can be seemingly healthy and then progress to the most common form of glaucoma called open-angle glaucoma, which accounts for the majority of cases.

Several large studies have been conducted to look at risk factors. Age is certainly a risk factor. A family history of glaucoma also puts a person at higher risk. Some studies have shown that patients who take calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure treatment may be at higher risk for developing open-angle glaucoma. Patients who have diabetes are also at higher risk for glaucoma.

How is glaucoma treated?

The most common treatment is prescription eye drops that are designed to keep the condition from getting worse. It is important to note that the drops will neither cure the glaucoma nor will they reverse any vision loss that has already occurred. If you have glaucoma, it is very important to use your eye drops as prescribed, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Doctors also use other medications and various types of surgery to treat glaucoma. The specific treatment is based on your disease progression, other health conditions, ethnicity and age, among other factors.

Typically, the ophthalmologist will recommend surgery for open-angle glaucoma when eye drops and other medications do not prove effective. Laser surgery is the surgery of choice. The surgeon makes small changes to the eye’s drainage system to allow better fluid flow to in turn reduce the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure). If laser surgery does not sufficiently reduce the pressure, the surgeon may recommend a more conventional surgery called a trabeculectomy.

The trabeculectomy procedure is also referred to as filtration surgery. The surgeon creates a passageway in the white part of the eye to allow a new place for excess eye fluid to drain to reduce the internal eye pressure.

If you have glaucoma, we will talk over all treatment options with you. All of these treatments work well, but you will need to take medications as prescribed and let the doctor know if you experience any side effects. We want you to come in for regular check-ups and we also want to know if you are experiencing any vision loss that is causing interference with your daily activities. If so, we can prescribe some low vision services or aids for you.

If glaucoma runs in your family, come get checked and encourage other family members to do so as well. Glaucoma must be taken seriously. If you live or work in Lititz PA, glaucoma treatment is close by in Lancaster. Don’t wait. Seek treatment today at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Early diagnosis is key!