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Turn to the Best Neuro-Ophthalmologist in Lancaster, PA, for Your Eyes

Your eyes help you experience the world around you every day, so you want to take care of them. And you know vision problems can turn severe quickly if not addressed promptly, so you schedule regular eye doctor appointments and pay attention to any vision changes.

Sometimes, however, your vision problems don't come from your eyes at all. Instead, these issues may come from your brain or your nervous system. If you suspect recent eye issues may be related to your neurological system and your eye doctor agrees during a routine eye exam, you need a neuro-opthalmologist in Lancaster, PA.

Neuro-ophthalmic conditions require eye doctors with specialized training to address them correctly. At your appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist, they will exam you and perform special testing to come to a diagnosis and treatment plan.

What Is Neuro-Ophthalmology?

Sight and eye movement make up the functions of nearly half of your brain. Sometimes, visual disturbances or problems come from your central nervous system instead of your eyes.

Ophthalmology focuses on the full spectrum of eye care, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to performing surgery. Neuro-ophthalmology is a subspecialty of ophthalmology combining neurology and ophthalmology. This field requires expertise in physical problems relating to your eyes, brain, nerves, and muscles. Additional training is needed to become a neuro-ophthalmologist or a pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist.

At its worst, issues relating to the nervous system can lead to loss of sight, impacting the optic nerves that transmit visual signals from your eyes to the brain. Trauma, inflammation, strokes, tumors, toxicities, or infections can cause neurological damage, which may lead to vision problems. Common neuro-ophthalmology-related issues include optic nerve problems, visual field loss, double vision, abnormal eye movements, myasthenia gravis, and unequal pupil size. Still, there are other issues this type of eye doctor can address during your visit.

If you've experienced any loss of visual acuity, visual field, or color vision, have issues moving your eyes, have been diagnosed with a tumor, experience other unexplained vision problems, or have unequal pupils, it's best to consult with a neuro-ophthalmologist.

What Does a Neuro-Ophthalmologist Do?

A neuro-ophthalmologist evaluates and diagnoses neurological and systemic diseases that affect your eyes. You may require a neuro-ophthalmologist for instances where visual disturbances remain unresolved despite ophthalmic and neurological evaluations.

Some of the diagnostic services your doctor may perform during your visit include:

Fundus photography—using a high-resolution camera to capture images of the eye and optic nerve accurately
Humphrey visual testing—screens patients for potential optic nerve conditions, such as glaucoma
Optical coherence tomography-—uses light waves to take pictures of the inside of the retina

What Does Neuro-Ophthalmology Treat?

A neuro-ophthalmologist collaborates with other disciplines, including endocrinology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and radiation oncology, to diagnose and then treat numerous conditions. That treatment may include surgery for adults or children, depending on the situation. Women, in particular, may benefit from visiting a neuro-ophthalmologist as they are more likely to experience neurological problems like migraines and multiple sclerosis that can produce ophthalmic complications.

The conditions that may require assessment or treatment by a neuro-ophthalmologist or a pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist can seem like common eye issues at first. If you or your optometrist suspect something is wrong with your or your child's eyes, schedule an appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist.

Adult Treatment

In adults, a neuro-ophthalmologist will look for neurological problems if your vision problems include:

Diplopia (double vision)
Strabismus, or failure of the two eyes to maintain proper alignment and work together
Double vision
Intracranial lesions
Pupillary abnormalities
Unexplained vision loss
Stroke
Concussions
Brain tumors and aneurysms
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis or muscle weakness
Pseudotumor cerebi or benign brain pressure
Temporal arteritis, also known as when the temporal arteries become inflamed or damaged
Optic nerve diseases like optic neuritis and neuropathy
Grave's Disease impacting the thyroid
Parkinson's Disease
Lyme Disease
Meningitis or brain inflammation
Degenerative neurological diseases
Facial movement disorders and headache
Blepharospasm or eyelid twitching
Hemifacial spasm occurring on ½ the face
Migraine
Torticollis or head and neck tilting

Children and Infant Treatment

When treating children's eye issues, a pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist will check for problems that may stem from:

Congenital malformations of the eye and brain
Genetic disorders like Down's Syndrome
Brain disorders like hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy
Concussions

Our Doctor Who Specializes in Neuro-Ophthalmology

When you have eye issues requiring specialized attention, it helps to have eye care professionals to serve your needs and help you deal with your vision problems. We're fortunate to have a dedicated, full-time neuro-ophthalmologist and specialist on board in our Lancaster, PA, eye care center.

Dr. Klombers

Dr. Klombers' calm and patient manner sets his patients at ease immediately, while his skill at solving problems and putting his patients' best interests first has earned him recognition as one of the top doctors in the nation.

Dr. Klombers has specialized in neuro-ophthalmology since he began his private practice over 26 years ago and currently sees over 11,000 patients yearly, performing over 500 surgical procedures on adults and children.

If you've been experiencing visual disturbances or issues that have remained undiagnosed, schedule a visit with our neuro-ophthalmologist in Lancaster, PA, today. We'll evaluate your condition, diagnose the problem, and provide a treatment course.

It's essential to bring any relevant medical records to your appointment, including radiology reports or any MRI or CT scans of your brain or eyes. Neuro-ophthalmology examinations may take longer than a routine eye exam. See what our neuro-ophthalmology service can do for you today!

Neuro-Ophthalmology FAQs

Many people know the basic gist of what an eye doctor does, but a neuro-ophthalmologist is an eye-care specialty that few are familiar with by name only. Here are some commonly asked questions we have encountered from our patients.

WHAT IS NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY USED TO DIAGNOSE?

The eyes are not solely responsible for your vision. Some of what you see comes from your nervous system as well! That's where neuro-ophthalmology comes into play. A neuro-ophthalmologist may be able to help you determine the cause of several eye issues. Drooping eyelids, abnormal eye movements, a swollen optic nerve, abnormal vision changes or double vision, pupils that are unequal in size, or flashes of light in the eyes, are all things a neuro-ophthalmologist can help find the cause of and identify.

DO I NEED TO SEE AN EYE DOCTOR AFTER A STROKE?

After a stroke, you may notice your vision has changed. If this is the case, speaking to your eye doctor about your vision is essential. They may refer you to a neuro-ophthalmologist to diagnose any issues in your eyes caused by the stroke.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A NEURO-OPTHALMOLOGIST?

Suppose you are experiencing vision issues like vision loss or change of vision that your eye doctor suspects might be caused by your central nervous system. In that case, they may refer you to a neuro-ophthalmologist in Lancaster, PA. You may also want to see a specialist neuro-ophthalmologist if you have vision problems that are difficult for a regular eye doctor to address.

WOULD A CHILD NEED TO SEE A NEURO-OPTHALMOLOGIST?

There are many reasons a child might need to see a neuro-ophthalmologist. Children grow quickly, so they need monitoring to ensure their growth is on track. Neurological complications can affect their eye function or vision. It is essential to have your child's eyes examined regularly, and if their eye doctor suspects a neurological issue, to have them visit a pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist in Lancaster, PA, as soon as possible.

WHAT CAUSES DOUBLE VISION?

Double vision that affects one eye is called monocular double vision; if it affects both eyes, it is called binocular double vision. Issues with the lens of the eye typically cause monocular double vision.

Binocular double vision, however, is caused by the misalignment of the eyes. Because the eyes are controlled by muscles connected to nerves, you may have one of three different issues causing your eye misalignment. The nerves in your eyes might be communicating poorly with the muscles of your eyes, the muscles of your eyes might have problems, or the nerves themselves might be functioning poorly because of external causes.

You may also experience double vision issues for other reasons, but the three discussed above are typically the main factors contributing to these eye ailments. If you are experiencing double vision, scheduling a visit with your neuro-ophthalmologist in Lancaster, PA, might be something you speak to your eye doctor about soon.