Going to have SLT Laser for Glaucoma....

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... Next Friday.

My Mother is suffering badly from Glaucoma and it looks like Im heading the same way.

My last eye test indicated high pressures so I was referred to the hospital.

They have all but said I have Glaucoma - but my peripheral field tests are fine, so they dont have to actually tell me its confirmed, and thus, I then have to inform DVLA. As Im employed as a Driver, I dont need any aggro license wise.

Anyway, next Friday Im scheduled to have this procedure, and Im not looking forward to it all. Im a bit of a control freak and dont like relying on other people, so its not going to be fun.

Will be done at Stoke Mandeville.

Not after sympathy, jut wondered if anyone else has had it ?


All about SLT

I have a customer who had both Lens replaced recently and he swears by the NHS...

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Steve H said:

I was diagnosed earlier in the year...I'm 43, mine is controlled by eye drops. Is this not an option?

The theory is this may hold drops off for a while Once you start on drops, its for life.

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968 said:

Hi SLT laser is a good option on the management of glaucoma and can result in lowered pressure for a reasonable time frame, with little harm to you. It's painless and the only discomfort will be the placing of a contact lens on your eye (which will be numb from some local anaesthetic drops) which feels like a pressure sensation. The laser itself is painless. You see a flash of light when the energy is delivered. I'm interested to see that they are using this as a first option. I presume you have discussed using eye drops to control the pressure?

PS which consultant are you under there. I know some of them at Stoke Mandeville.

Hi 968
My letter says Asifa Shaikh or whoever else has nothing better to do...

As for drops, as I said, they will be for life. I think it also means they then have to actually tell me I have Glaucoma, and I then have to inform DVLA, so its a kind of middle grouund.

As I understand it anyway.

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According to the nurse I saw when I was assessed for SLT , my field tests are fine - hence not actually coming out and saying yes to Glaucoma. Now you mention it, the tension thing does ring a bell and may have been mentioned.

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Been meaning to update this.

Went to hospital last week, they checked my pressures again,found 25/26 instead of he previous 28/9.


I'm now on hold and have to go back for re assessment in April 2014.

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Latest update.... follow on visit showed a small increase in pressures - 26/27 I think they said.

The specialist I saw advised that SLT may or may not work in my situations and has put me on drops for the time being.

Im guessing this is the thin end of the wedge for my sight though.