Top Glaucoma Doctors in Reading, PA

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. If diagnosed and treated early, however, vision loss can be prevented. You will find the top glaucoma doctors in Reading, PA at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.

As the leading ophthalmology practice in Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties, the board certified and fellowship-trained ophthalmologists at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania 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 glaucoma specialists include 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.”

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that transmits images from the eye to the brain so that we can see. Most of the time, the nerve damage comes from high pressure inside the eye which is caused by a backup of fluid.

The eye is nourished by a clear fluid (called aqueous humor) that circulates inside and is constantly returned to the blood stream by what is called the trabecular meshwork, or the eye’s drainage canals. The production, circulation and drainage of this fluid are ongoing and necessary for the health of the eye.

When something goes wrong with the drainage canal and the fluid is unable to leave the eye as fast as it is produced, pressure inside the eye begins to build. This excess fluid pressure pushes against the delicate optic nerve. If the pressure stays too high for too long, permanent vision loss can occur.

Two of the most common forms of glaucoma are primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma.

How is Glaucoma Treated?

If your eye doctor determines that you have glaucoma, he or she may recommend prescription eye drops or medications, laser surgery, or another type of conventional surgery.

Each patient’s circumstances are different – including age, ethnicity, lifestyle, disease progression and other health conditions. Your ophthalmologist will work with you to find the treatment that is right for you.

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: The laser beam is used to make small changes in the eye’s drainage system to allow fluid to flow more easily and reduce the intraocular pressure. If the pressure is not adequately reduced or begins to rise again, your doctor may recommend conventional surgery.
• 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 passage in the white part of the eye (the sclera) to give excess eye fluid a new place to drain.

Be sure to talk to Dr. Negarsheth or Dr. Nemani about other glaucoma surgeries and promising developments in other forms of treatment.

If you are in the Reading, PA area and need information about glaucoma treatment or surgery, get in touch with the top doctors at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for an evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment can minimize loss of vision before the glaucoma becomes too advanced.