Best Glaucoma Specialist in Pottstown, PA

Glaucoma is often thought of as a single disease, but there are actually several types of glaucoma, all of which involve increased internal eye pressure. Two of the more common forms are primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Regardless of the type of glaucoma you may have, early detection is key so we can provide early treatment. Patients need to know that glaucoma has no symptoms until the disease reaches the late stages. By that point, significant vision loss has likely already occurred. If you have or suspect you have glaucoma, see the best glaucoma specialist in Pottstown, PA, at our Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania office.

About Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma is by far the most common form of glaucoma. The disease progresses very slowly and gives no warning signs or symptoms. Most people don’t even notice vision loss for many, many years. Slight vision changes are often attributed to aging, but there is an underlying disease.

Glaucoma is characterized by high internal eye pressure. Over time, this damages the optic nerve and, left untreated, leads to eventual blindness. The only way to detect damage to the optic nerve is through consistent eye exams.

Angle-closure glaucoma is a much more rare form of the disease. It develops quickly. Patients describe it as a sudden attack that worsens over the next few hours. This acute attack may only affect one eye and involves these symptoms:

• Sudden, severe eye pain
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sudden loss of vision in one eye
• Blurred or hazy vision
• Halos or rainbows around lights
• Eye redness

If you experience this sudden onset and have one or more of these symptoms, be sure to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest emergency room. While these symptoms do not necessarily indicate angle-closure glaucoma, they are signs of a potentially serious problem, so seek emergency care. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Glaucoma Treatment

Our board-certified and fellowship trained glaucoma specialists use three glaucoma treatments. The first treatment used to lower pressure is either eye drops or oral medications. It is typically reserved for milder cases. For more advanced cases, we will try laser surgery or another type of conventional surgery. If surgery is required, these procedures can treat both open-angle and closed-angle glaucoma. Traditional surgery is often our preferred method for closed-angle glaucoma. For open-angle glaucoma, we usually try to first treat it with medication.

Just know that each patient is unique. Several factors contribute to each glaucoma case, such as disease progression, underlying medical conditions, age, ethnicity, etc. Our team will evaluate your eyes and work with you to find the right care plan.

If you need the bet glaucoma specialist in Pottstown, PA, our highly skilled Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania are right here in town. Our practice is the leading ophthalmology practice in this region (Lebanon, Berks, Lancaster, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties). Don’t wait for glaucoma to damage your optic nerves. Come in for an eye exam. We can’t wait to meet you at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Early diagnosis is key, so call us today.