Glaucoma Specialist in Wyomissing, PA

If you live or work in Wyomissing, PA and suspect you may have glaucoma, Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania offers a highly skilled team of board certified and fellowship trained specialists who have vast experience in glaucoma and all methods of managing the disease, both medically and surgically.

Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is the leading ophthalmology practice in Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties. Our exceptional ophthalmologists have helped thousands of people minimize the irreversible effects of glaucoma.

• Meet Mehul H. Negarseth, MD
• Meet Abhishek K. Nemani, MD

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease that leads to the damage of the optic nerve. It is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. High-risk groups include people over age 60, family members of people with glaucoma, diabetics, and people who are severely nearsighted. If diagnosed and treated early, however, vision loss can be prevented.

There are several forms of glaucoma, including:

• Open-Angle Glaucoma (the most common form of the disease)
• Angle-Closure/Narrow Angle Glaucoma
• Normal Tension Glaucoma
• Pigmentary Glaucoma
• Exfoliation Syndrome
• Trauma-Related Glaucoma
• Childhood (or Congenital) Glaucoma

The optic nerve is the part of your eye that is responsible for transmitting images from the eye to the brain to help it make sense of the images. When you experience optic nerve damage from glaucoma, your eyesight can be severely diminished. Most of the time, the nerve damage comes from high pressure inside the eye which is caused by a backup of fluid.

The eye constantly produces a clear fluid (called aqueous humor) that circulates through drainage canals in the front of the eye near the iris and is necessary for the health of the eye.

When something goes wrong with the drainage canal and the fluid is unable to escape from the eye as fast as it is produced, pressure on the optic nerve begins to build. This condition is known as glaucoma. If left untreated, permanent vision loss can occur.

Treatments for glaucoma include eye drops, medications, laser surgery, traditional surgery, or a combination of these methods. When medications do not achieve the desired results, or have intolerable side effects, your ophthalmologist may suggest surgery.

Do You Have Symptoms of Glaucoma?

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be showing signs of glaucoma:

• Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision
• Sudden blurred or hazy vision
• Pain in or behind the eye ball
• Headache with nausea or vomiting
• Visual disturbances with halos or rainbows around light

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, from babies to senior citizens. Glaucoma affects about one in 200 people under age 50. In individuals over the age of 80, this number jumps to one in 10.

A dilated eye exam is the best and most effective way to detect glaucoma. Early detection and treatment can usually slow the progression of the disease.

If you are in the Wyomissing, PA area and need information about glaucoma diagnosis, treatment, or surgery, contact Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for an evaluation with a glaucoma specialist.