Glaucoma Treatment in Reading, PA

The glaucoma specialists at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania provide glaucoma treatment through medication and surgery in Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties. We have offices in Reading (Wyomissing), Pottsville, Pottstown, Lebanon and Blandon, PA.

As the leading ophthalmology practice in the region, our board certified and fellowship trained ophthalmologists have vast experience in all current glaucoma treatments and surgical procedures and have helped thousands of people minimize the irreversible effects of the disease.

Our highly skilled team includes:

• Mehul H. Negarsheth, MD, who completed his glaucoma fellowship at Tufts New England Eye Center and Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston
• Abhishek K. Nemani, MD, who completed his glaucoma fellowship at the prestigious Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania where he was awarded “Fellow of the Year.”

About Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that slowly develop over time, causing damage to the optic nerve and stealing your sight without warning. If caught early, it can usually be controlled.

At first there are no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, your peripheral vision can begin to fail, followed by a decrease in straight-ahead vision and, eventually, total blindness.

There are two major types of glaucoma – open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma and is damages the eye with no warning signs. Closed-angle glaucoma happens quickly and can cause symptoms such as severe eye pain, headache, blurred vision, haloes around lights, nausea and/or vomiting. Closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency

While the damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, eye drops, pills, lasers, and surgical procedures can be used to prevent and slow the progression of the disease.

Glaucoma Treatment Options

Eye Drops & Medications

Glaucoma is frequently controlled with eye drops, sometimes in combination with pills. These medications work to decrease eye pressure by either by slowing the formation of aqueous fluids within the eye or by improving the flow through the drainage apparatus of the eye.

Surgery

Glaucoma surgery can be used to treat open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma. Although conventional surgery is often the first choice for closed-angle glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma is usually treated first with medication or laser surgery.

• Laser Surgery: A laser beam is used to make small changes that stimulate better flow of fluid through the eye’s drainage system and reduce intraocular pressure. It is performed in an office setting, is painless, and is effective in most patients.
• Trabeculectomy: The most common conventional surgery is a trabeculectomy, sometimes called filtration surgery, which is used in both open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma. The surgeon creates a drainage pathway in the white part of the eye (the sclera) to give excess eye fluid a new place to escape.

There are other glaucoma surgeries and promising developments in other forms of treatment. If you have glaucoma, discuss the alternatives with Dr. Negarsheth or Dr. Nemani.

Glaucoma is a painless disease and anyone can develop it. We encourage everyone to get screened every other year, especially those at high-risk of developing glaucoma – African Americans and Hispanics over age 40, everyone over age 60, and those with a family history of glaucoma.

If you are in Reading, PA and need information about glaucoma treatment or surgery, get in touch with Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for an evaluation. Our combination of thorough training, experience, and eye care innovation make us the perfect choice for your eye care.