Ocular Disease Management

At both of our practice locations, Dr. Reto and Dr. Halscheid provide medical care for ocular disease.  Both doctors are board-certified in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease. As graduates of the prestigious Pennsylvania College of Optometry, both doctors have extensive training in the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting the eye.

Recent advances in technology allow our doctors to diagnose disease more quickly and confidently than ever before.  We are proud to offer the most current technology in our offices.  By diagnosing disease in its earliest stages, our doctors are able to provide timely intervention.  Ultimately, this early intervention and treatment may prevent visual damage. 

In many cases, the risks for ocular disease increase with age.  Patients over the age of 35 years are more susceptible to disease.  However, Glaucoma is an example of ocular disease that may affect patients of any age.  Often referred to as “the silent thief of sight”, glaucoma is a disease   that may show no symptoms.  Unfortunately, this means patients are unaware of their condition until they begin to lose sight.  In our offices, we proudly offer Heidelberg Retinal Tomography instrumentation allowing for the most precise method of managing change in patients diagnosed with glaucoma.  We also provide Humphrey Visual Field testing, Digital Retinal Photography, and Pachymetry testing so that we may diagnose this devastating disease in its earliest stages.  (The photo to the right displays a loss of peripheral vision, which is the initial loss suffered by patients with glaucoma.)  

In most cases, glaucoma is successfully managed medically through the use of prescription eye drops.  However, in severe cases, medical management is not efficacious.  In cases such as these, Dr. Reto or Dr. Halscheid may recommend surgical intervention.  Our office is proud to offer the services of Dr. Robert Liss & Dr. Tony Zacchei when the need for surgical care arises. 

While glaucoma may affect patients of any age, Macular Degeneration is an age-related disease.  Most often this condition affects patients over the age of 60 years.  As with glaucoma, early detection of macular degeneration is essential.  Presently, there is no cure for macular degeneration.  Once a patient loses sight to this disease, it may not be restored.  However, with early diagnosis, steps may be taken to prevent further damage.  Our office is proud to offer the services of Dr. Bruce Saran to patients diagnosed with macular degeneration.  (The photo to the left provides an example of the loss of central vision which a patient with macular degeneration may suffer.)

Cataract is another example of an ocular condition much more common in patients over the age of 60 years.  However, cataract may affect patients of  any age.  Perhaps no other treatment regimen has advanced more in recent years than the treatment of cataract.  Cataract surgery today allows an extremely successful alternative for patients dealing with this condition.  In fact, cataract surgery is the most common of all surgical procedures in the United States.  (Patients with advancing cataract may experience glare, difficulty at night, and an overall blur to their vision, as evidenced by the photo to the right.)

Many systemic diseases may affect the eye.  Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in the United States today.  Hypertension, Multiple Sclerosis, Hypercholesterolemia and Thyroid Disease may all have severe visual and ocular health ramifications.  In cases such as these, Dr. Reto and Dr. Halscheid will co-manage the patients care with their family physician.  By working together and managing the underlying systemic cause for ocular disease, patients may receive the very best care possible.