Glaucoma

Santababy This is exactly what happened to me about a year ago. Picked up at the optician and confirmed by an ophthalmologist soon afterwards. I also have a loss of some peripheral vision and also a little central vision in one eye although I wouldn't have known that. It is a shock isn't it? I had nightmares about going blind.. Since then I have had laser irridotomies in both eyes. (painless laser surgery to help with eye drainage). The thought of that was terrifying but there really was nothing to it. I use prescribed eye drops three times a day and my eye pressures are within normal levels although you may find it takes a bit of experimenting for the consultant to find the right ones for you. Do be careful of browsing the internet. A lot of what you find is very technical,meant for medical experts. Do try to relax. Not easy I know. A year on have become much more excepting about it and the thought of it isn't taking over my life as it was.

Grandma60, you have absolutely no idea how reassuring it is to read your post.

I have been feeling very scared and alone. So glad you are feeling so much better a year on. The laser treatment sounds horrible but again your comments are very comforting. The consultant I saw yesterday was only doing his job but his comment of " it can take 10 or 12 years before you become blind" was hardly helpful as I am 63 next month! Perhaps he thought 75 year olds wouldn't mind about losing their sight.

Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me your experience. I will certainly try and resist searching for info on the Internet. Good advice.

Glad it helped. My consultant seemed very blunt when he told me the news. I asked would I go blind and he replied "Thats my job"! Of course I had wanted him to say no. At that point I really didn't want to go back again but now I have complete faith in him. I think yours meant that it would take 12 years if left untreated. I wish I had gone onto Gransnet at the time but I was so scared I couldn't even type the word! Now writing this I realize how far I have come since then.
By coincidence as I was replying to you the phone rang. It was the hospital to say that they had a cancellation and they can do my first cataract on Monday. That is another story but he is going to try and widen the angle at the same time so there are things they can do.
Please keep in touch. I'd like to know how you get on.

When I had my cataracts dealt with last year, my consultant told me that in the States hey are seriously considering replacing lenses in the eyes of those with glaucoma, because it can ease the problem (more room in they eye or something,)

I have a bad family history of Glaucoma. It's through all the descendents of my MGM.
At the moment it is called "normal tension glaucoma" where although the eye pressure is not exceptionally high there are signs of changes in the back of the eye where the optic nerve goes.

I have been on eye drops for quite a long time now which. which is the standard treatment it is monitored annually.

I think if you have diagnosed Glaucoma your children can get free eye tests from the age of 40. Worth checking out.

So sorry to hear that Santababy. With treatment they should be able to stop in its steps- thank goodness you found out early enough.

But when was you last full eye test? We both have 1 at least once a year, and if possible every 6 th months- It is unsual to go from normal sight to glaucoma in such a short time.

Only saying this to remind EVERYONE over the age of 55 approx to have a full eye test at least every year. The risks of not doing so are just not worth it.

Yes Granjura I do agree with that. I was having regular eye checks every 2 years so I was shocked to find that damage had already been done. I was surprised at how many of my friends hadn't had a check for years thinking that if their glasses were ok there was no need. Needless to say I have told them all how important this is.

The rules have changed in this country as I discovered last 0ctober when I routinely rang to make an appointment for my annual eye test to discover that the Government has decided that it should be every 2 years. The way around that is to say that you are certain that your sight has changed. I have Macular degeneration as well as Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy and I knew that my sight had worsened so I received a free test. If one does not cause blindness, the other definitely will! I also have cataracts so it will soon be a full house like bingo.

You can always pay for a yearly one- not expensive really. As we are no longer elegible for NHS treatment- we always pay for hours- money very well spent.

My poor mum became totally blind as opticians here do not perform the pressure test, field of vision and back of the eye examination. Tragic.

She ended up with cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration- and nothing could be done. I was so sad, and furious too.

Useful advice from everyone. Still shocked at diagnosis and wondering how life would be in a very rural area if unable to drive. I am sure I am worrying too soon but still....

Santababy I was diagnosed with glaucoma over 15 years ago by Boots Opticians at a regular eye test and was immediately referred to an opthamologist who congratulated them on spotting it at such an early stage. I have used eye drops once a day since then and it has not deteriorated at all. I also developed macular degeneration about 10 years ago which left me with a tiny kink or blank spot in the vision in my right eye. This also remained stable. I am now 68 and have annual checks at the hospital.

Last year I needed surgery for a macular repair (unrelated to the other conditions) and was amazed to find that my eye pressures were in the normal range even the day after the operation so obviously the eye drops have done their job!! I am now waiting for a cataract operation but I am told most people of a certain age develop cataracts of some sort.

My grandfather went blind from glaucoma and all his descendants have carefully monitored themselves, and as Nelliemoser says we get free eye tests over 40 years old.

I hope this reassures you a little. Now you have been diagnosed and, I assume, being treated there is little or no more likelihood of you going blind. Try not to worry.

My FiL is still driving at 81 and he gets checked every year without fail because he doesn't want to lose his licence. He's not bad enough for laser treatment, but will have it if it means he can continue to drive. He lives on his own now, so he was worried when he was first diagnosed, but now it's just another health thing to cope with.

My friend's father had the laser treatment in November and was so impressed by how easy it was that he told everybody all the details when they asked how he was! . He'd bought a brand new car last year and only drove it for a few months before deciding not to drive anymore. We think he must have had a scare when he was driving, but he never said anything. He's been back driving since before Christmas and is now a happy bunny.

I know there's no point in saying don't worry, but hopefully these posts will help you feel a little bit better.

Thanks Wilma and Grandma2213 etc, such reassuring comments have made me get this into perspective.

There's nothing like having a conversation with sensible women to make you feel better. So glad I discovered Gransnet. It's great to be able to contact others in this way. I just wish my Mum had had the same ability.

Yes Santababy A bit of perspective is what I could have done with last year. All I could think about was losing my sight and trying to imagine what it would be like. I kept reminding my self that a lot of people have to deal with having cancer but it didn't make me feel any better. Now it does feel much more like an annoying health issue that just has to be dealt with. As others have said, now you are being treated you are unlikely to go blind, just as I have been telling myself

Exactly Grandma60, I have dear friends dealing with cancer and that certainly should have made me feel ashamed to be so scared. Still we can only cope with the here and now.

I am so glad you feel more in control and will keep you in mind as an example. Such lovely people on here. Thank you to all, aren't Gransnetters fab. Sorry...child of the 60s!

About five years ago the normal eye test in a branch of Specsavers showed that my eye pressure was getting too high. I was referred to the hospital and lots of tests and prescribed Xalatan drops which I use nightly. By the next hospital check six months later my pressure was normal. I still use the drops. Here in France where the system for eye tests is totally different I asked for a appointment to see a consultant but was basically sent to a normal optician who did fewer tests than Specsavers - all she said was I had the right prescription glasses! I have since had another eye test at Specsavers and they compared the latest photo of my eye and all looks well. They wrote to the hospital and explained my problem and treatment here (France) and the hospital contacted me quickly with an appointment. An examination on an OCT machine is needed to check the eyes for this condition.
i think that there is not enough information about this condition and it is far more complicated than just the eye pressure.

I have had glaucoma for 16 years and it is controlled by eye drops, about 3 years ago I was given a second type of eye drop for one eye as the pressure was getting a bit high. My field tests show no new damage in all this time which is a relief as my father went blind in old age. My sister developed glaucoma more recently and because she pays to go privately, had laser treatment to reduce the pressure. So, although everyone is different, the diagnosis is not something you usually need to panic about as long as you are under the care of a specialist that you see regularly.

I didn't mention it before but I have narrow angle glaucoma which is apparently more difficult to treat. Has anyone had any experience of this?

Grandma60, thank you for your kind words a few weeks ago, they were very reassuring. I have since seen my GP to clarify a few points and feel so much better. My next ophthalmologist appointment is at the end of March so will wait and see.

I do hope your cataract op went well and that the treatment will bring good results. very best wishes from me to you and thanks again.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I was referred to my local hospital who prescribed Travoprost eye drops which I instill daily, and so far it has been controlled. Regular eye checks are so important

Hello Santababy It's nice to hear from you. I have been wondering how you were getting on.I'm glad to hear that your GP has been able to reassure you.I do remember the fear and panic I felt when I was diagnosed. My cataract op has been put off till 29th Feb. I will let you know how it goes.Please keep in touch if you would like to. Thank you Grandmaowl and everyone else who has posted. It is so encouraging to hear others success story's.

Grandma60,

So sorry your op has been put off, sometimes it is easier to deal with things before you have had time to worry about them I find. Thinking about you and wishing you well.

How lucky we are to be able to use technology to reassure one another. Not all progress is a bad thing! Please let me know how you are after the op.

Absolutely exhausted today after lively grandchildren at half term but so lucky in so many ways. Do so hope you feel the same!.

Thank you Santababy Yes isn't it great how sites like Gransnet enable people who would never have spoken to each other to communicate! I often wonder what my Mother and Grandmother would of made of it. I had I had wonderful support on another matter a couple of years ago.Mind you there is nothing like grandchildren for taking your mind off things is there?
I will definitely let you know how the op goes. It seems to be quite routine surgery. I expect lots of people on here have had it done.

Grandma60 I was diagnosed wth narrow angle a year ago - it is a rare condition.

Firstly I had the laser treatment ( painless) which was a success. My consultant then said I should consider having my cataracts done within the next year or so (I'm 68) because that would help the pressure problem from recurring.

I asked if there was any reason i couldn't have them done sooner rather than later and he said that was fine and both ops were done in March and May last year. I was signed off in September.

Wishing you luck for your cataract op