Medical & Surgical Eye Care

Pediatric ophthalmologists treat all medical and surgical aspects of pediatric eye disease. Pediatric ophthalmologists are also experts for patients with adult strabismus (misaligned eyes.) In fact, the official name for the fellowship after 4 years of ophthalmology surgical residency is “Pediatric ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus.”  At first some adult patients will think that they are in the wrong clinic when the see the toys and the train table, but they soon realize they are in the right place to get their complex eye alignment fixed.

GTOC surgeons are pleased to offer cataract surgery in addition to traditional cataract surgery. Recent advances in technology have led to developments specifically for use in cataract surgery.

The cornea is the clear tissue on the front portion of the eye. If it becomes diseased or scarred, a corneal transplant may be necessary. There are many types of transplants that can be performed. The type of transplant done depends on which layer or layers of the patient’s own cornea needs to be replaced. If the front portion of the cornea needs to be replaced, it is called deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. If only the back portion of the cornea needs to be replaced, endothelial keratoplasty (either deep lamellar keratoplasty or Descemet’s membrane keratoplasty)  is done. At GTOC, we perform full  thickness transplants, anterior lamellar transplants, and endothelial keratoplasty. Come See For Yourself what it means to get care from a cornea specialist at GTOC.

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, occurs when blood vessels in the retina change. Sometimes these vessels swell and leak fluid or even close off completely. You can have diabetic retinopathy and not be aware of it, since the early stages of diabetic retinopathy often don't have symptoms. It can cause loss of vision, blurred vision, spots or dots in your vision, or other symptoms. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with one of several types of laser surgery, medications, or an operation called a vitrectomy. Careful management of your diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss. If you have diabetes, see your eye doctor for a yearly diabetic screening that includes a dilated exam — even if your vision seems fine — because it's important to detect diabetic retinopathy in the early stages.

Many people suffer with uncomfortable, burning eyes and blurred vision. A common cause is dry eye syndrome, also called ocular surface disease. There are many treatments that can help this syndrome, including prescription and non-prescription eye drops. Some therapies are focused on improving the oil component of the tear film, or blocking the tear drainage system. At GTOC,  we understand that ocular surface disease can greatly impact the quality of your life and can offer you a treatment plan tailored to you. Come See For Yourself what it means to get care from a dry eye specialist at GTOC.

Dr. Sneed received fellowship training at the world-renowned Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He is a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (www.asoprs.org), a group of approximately 400 ophthalmologists who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of eyelid, orbital facial, and tear duct disorders, both cosmetic and functional.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve. It usually involves high eye pressure which causes loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma can cause blindness if it is left untreated. Only about half of the estimated three million Americans who have glaucoma are even aware that they have the condition. When glaucoma develops, usually you don’t have any early symptoms and the disease progresses slowly. In this way, glaucoma can steal your sight very gradually. Fortunately, early detection and treatment (with glaucoma eyedrops, glaucoma surgery or both) can help preserve your vision.

Age-related macular degeneration is a deterioration or breakdown of the eye's macula, which is the central portion of the retina, inside the back of the eye. With macular degeneration, you may have symptoms such as blurriness, dark areas or distortion in your central vision, and perhaps permanent loss of your central vision. It does not cause total blindness, as the peripheral vision is usually uninvolved.

Pediatric eye care often involves orthoptics and deals with the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus (crossed-eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye that does not see 20/20). These disorders usually occur in young children. Dr. Daniel Thuente is a fellowship-trained pediatric specialist and has many years of experience in this field.