Discussion
Just been diagnosed with Glaucoma. Im 43 and its a bit of a shock. Drops for the rest of my life and have to tell DVLA (its in both eyes).
I appeciate that there are people far worse off than me but its still quite a shock.
Anyone else on here have the condition and could offer any advice/kind words?
Steve
I appeciate that there are people far worse off than me but its still quite a shock.
Anyone else on here have the condition and could offer any advice/kind words?
Steve
I'm 43 & have it following wrongly perscribed steriod drops & high dose oral steriods many years ago, resulting in a huge pressure rise (mine were 54 & 56 - normal range is 13-20!)
Its not bad at all, very minor in fact & does not cause me any issues.
I take Xlatan & Azopt drops & diamox tablets to control the pressure, & regualr pressure checks are a must if you are to slow the advance. There is also sugery like a tubectomy(sp?, though dont google if you've not had breakfast yet.
I got referred to Moorfields & see a chap called Keith Barton - if you can get a refferal, do. They are the best in the world without doubt.
I suspect their main concern, like me, will be your age, most at the Glaucoma clinic are a lot older.
As i said, keeping the pressures low & regular checks are the key. Don't let it get you down, there is a huge amount of great work & treatment avaliable.
If you feel that your local consultant is out of their depth (& many will be), badger them for a refferral to Moorfields. Failing that, you can also go private at Moorfields if funds allow.
Its not bad at all, very minor in fact & does not cause me any issues.
I take Xlatan & Azopt drops & diamox tablets to control the pressure, & regualr pressure checks are a must if you are to slow the advance. There is also sugery like a tubectomy(sp?, though dont google if you've not had breakfast yet.
I got referred to Moorfields & see a chap called Keith Barton - if you can get a refferal, do. They are the best in the world without doubt.
I suspect their main concern, like me, will be your age, most at the Glaucoma clinic are a lot older.
As i said, keeping the pressures low & regular checks are the key. Don't let it get you down, there is a huge amount of great work & treatment avaliable.
If you feel that your local consultant is out of their depth (& many will be), badger them for a refferral to Moorfields. Failing that, you can also go private at Moorfields if funds allow.
Steve, those are high pressures, i'd have thought that they would want to see at least a 50% pressure drop. Ive been told that i need to stay between the 13-20 range to ensure the condition does not progress with any speed.
Insurance/life insurance fine, as my eyesight is excellent & i have regular field of vision tests/eye tests.
What is the reason for your increase in pressures? If drops/tablets do not control the pressure, then get referred to a glaucoma consultant asap, before it gets any worse.
Insurance/life insurance fine, as my eyesight is excellent & i have regular field of vision tests/eye tests.
What is the reason for your increase in pressures? If drops/tablets do not control the pressure, then get referred to a glaucoma consultant asap, before it gets any worse.
Im due to go back in a month to see the consultant as i only saw a nurse. She didnt give a specific reason for pressure increase, just said glaucoma. Im on bitmaprost eye drops once a day. ( think thats what its called, havent got ut with me)
My eyesight is also good, just a bit concerned what the next 20/30 yrs hold.
Appreciate the advice
My eyesight is also good, just a bit concerned what the next 20/30 yrs hold.
Appreciate the advice
With the greatest of respect to the Nurse, get to a consultant asap. Those eye pressures will be speeding the loss of vision fairly quickly.
When I had high pressures, my symptoms were a hazing/foggy vision & when looking at street lights/car headlights, a rainbow halo effect. At those levels, you may be getting headaches too.
Initially i went to my GP 3 or 4 times for the above symptoms, & he said it was hayfever & pescribed a strong steriod drop (which I now know did more harm than good). Eventually, following a heated meeting with said GP, he agreed to refer me to a local eye consultant who diagnosed it straight away.
With hindsight, I wish I'd been harder on the GP from the off as I would have got referred sooner & the damage minimized.
IME, a month is too long to wait before the pressures are checked again.
Any local optician has the ability to check the pressure for you, which should make it easier to see someone quickly.
When I had high pressures, my symptoms were a hazing/foggy vision & when looking at street lights/car headlights, a rainbow halo effect. At those levels, you may be getting headaches too.
Initially i went to my GP 3 or 4 times for the above symptoms, & he said it was hayfever & pescribed a strong steriod drop (which I now know did more harm than good). Eventually, following a heated meeting with said GP, he agreed to refer me to a local eye consultant who diagnosed it straight away.
With hindsight, I wish I'd been harder on the GP from the off as I would have got referred sooner & the damage minimized.
IME, a month is too long to wait before the pressures are checked again.
Any local optician has the ability to check the pressure for you, which should make it easier to see someone quickly.
Sorry darreni i should have been clearer, this was all done at the eye ward at hospital, i was referred their by my optician. The nurse (i call her that but she was a bit more than that) did refer my test results to the consultant and it was decided there and then to begin drops, so i have only been taking them for 3 days. Going to call tues to check info/pressure levels as i was in a bit of shock on weds when she told me.
Edit to add, i have had much more than the air puff pressure test at opticians. I have done field test on both eyes, had the back of my eyes scanned and had the probe thingy touching my eyeball (i really should know the names of these tests!)
Edit to add, i have had much more than the air puff pressure test at opticians. I have done field test on both eyes, had the back of my eyes scanned and had the probe thingy touching my eyeball (i really should know the names of these tests!)
Edited by Steve H on Saturday 30th March 17:32
OK, it sounds like you are in the right place then.
I would expect they'll want to do another pressure test next week to ensure that drops are reducing to pressures to an acceptable level.
Some good info here:
http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/Eyehealth/Commoneyeco...
Don't worry too much, stopping it getting any worse is the main thing & the regular tests/scans should ensure this is case.
I would expect they'll want to do another pressure test next week to ensure that drops are reducing to pressures to an acceptable level.
Some good info here:
http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/Eyehealth/Commoneyeco...
Don't worry too much, stopping it getting any worse is the main thing & the regular tests/scans should ensure this is case.
Steve H,
Did you go to your local optometrist for a routine appointment or were you having problems with your eyes? There are many forms of glaucoma, some are acute and can damage your eye quickly and other forms are more chronic and people are unaware they have a problem. The first thing to tell you is that simply having raised pressure inside your eye does not always mean you have glaucoma. Glaucoma is the term reserved for when the pressure within the eye damages the optic nerve and gives you a characteristic visual field defect. This most commonly happens when the intraocular pressure is raised, but can much less commonly also occur at pressures considered to be within the 'normal' range. Did the nurse tell you your visual fields were abnormal? On the optometrists letter they should have commented on them and the appearance of your optic nerves. They may have written down something called a cup:disc ratio (CD). Generally it should be less than 0.4 if normal.
Glaucoma can be a primary condition and occur for no obvious reason other than increased resistance to fluid flowing outside the eye. However, you are very young which should prompt any examining doctor to exclude other potential causes for your raised intraocular pressures, of which there are many. As Darreni said, steroid eye drops, tablets or creams can be one secondary cause. A condition called pigment dispersion syndrome can occur particularly in young male short sighted people. There are other forms of glaucoma, the 'narrow angle glaucomas', that most often occur in long sighted people. Given your young age I would enquire about these things and others. I would want to know what form of glaucoma I had, be it a secondary glaucoma such as pseudo exfoliation or a primary open angle glaucoma.
I do not mean to worry you, but you are very young. You need these things excluding by an ophthalmology registrar in the first instance at the very least in eye casualty, with a confident diagnosis and appropriate treatment/follow up arranged. I would not trust all nurse practitioners to accurately diagnose any of these conditions, especially if they were eye casualty nurse practitioners, as they will likely have little glaucoma experience, other than for acute angle closure glaucoma. Did they put a large contact lens on the surface of your eye with mirrors inside it? That is called gonioscopy and should have been done.
If i am honest, if your pressures are genuinely almost 50, then I would not want to wait at least 4 weeks to have them re checked. I would not also want to be simply prescribed one drop by a nurse. The aim of glaucoma treatment is very simple, to reduce the pressure to a level that will stop any progression of damage to the nerve in the eye from occurring. Who knows what that pressure will be for you? It could be 16, 21 or 30mmHg, but until you have had several visual field tests and several follow up appointments then nobody will know. I can tell you however that a pressure that high can cause other problems such as blocked veins that can permanently and suddenly reduce your vision. It needs lowering. Prostaglandin eye drops don't have a quick onset of action and wont 'instantly' reduce your pressure. I would first want a more detailed explanation/diagnosis, other than glaucoma, and then would want my pressures lowering quickly, probably with diamox tablets and several eye drops. I would want my intraocular pressures checked again within 5 days. You can then, once within a reasonable presure range, stop the tablets and some of the drops. If you are seen in say 6 weeks, as NHS appointments can sometimes be delayed, and your pressure is still over 30mmHg because you have narrow angle glaucoma or some other problem that the nurse did not spot then who knows what damage could be done. Phone up, or go back and get it sorted. Once your pressure is under control and documented to be so, then a follow up appointment in a glaucoma clinic in 4 weeks would be appropriate.
If you have been asymptomatic then your eye pressures in all reality may (but may not) have been elevated for quite some time. Your eye drop may reduce your intraocular pressure to within a reasonable range, but it may not. You will most likely be fine if you wait but you may not. Get a second opinion or see an ophthalmology registrar in an eye casualty. Some of them have a walk in service. But a pressure of 48 is simply too high to be 'conservative with' in my opinion.
Best wishes
Did you go to your local optometrist for a routine appointment or were you having problems with your eyes? There are many forms of glaucoma, some are acute and can damage your eye quickly and other forms are more chronic and people are unaware they have a problem. The first thing to tell you is that simply having raised pressure inside your eye does not always mean you have glaucoma. Glaucoma is the term reserved for when the pressure within the eye damages the optic nerve and gives you a characteristic visual field defect. This most commonly happens when the intraocular pressure is raised, but can much less commonly also occur at pressures considered to be within the 'normal' range. Did the nurse tell you your visual fields were abnormal? On the optometrists letter they should have commented on them and the appearance of your optic nerves. They may have written down something called a cup:disc ratio (CD). Generally it should be less than 0.4 if normal.
Glaucoma can be a primary condition and occur for no obvious reason other than increased resistance to fluid flowing outside the eye. However, you are very young which should prompt any examining doctor to exclude other potential causes for your raised intraocular pressures, of which there are many. As Darreni said, steroid eye drops, tablets or creams can be one secondary cause. A condition called pigment dispersion syndrome can occur particularly in young male short sighted people. There are other forms of glaucoma, the 'narrow angle glaucomas', that most often occur in long sighted people. Given your young age I would enquire about these things and others. I would want to know what form of glaucoma I had, be it a secondary glaucoma such as pseudo exfoliation or a primary open angle glaucoma.
I do not mean to worry you, but you are very young. You need these things excluding by an ophthalmology registrar in the first instance at the very least in eye casualty, with a confident diagnosis and appropriate treatment/follow up arranged. I would not trust all nurse practitioners to accurately diagnose any of these conditions, especially if they were eye casualty nurse practitioners, as they will likely have little glaucoma experience, other than for acute angle closure glaucoma. Did they put a large contact lens on the surface of your eye with mirrors inside it? That is called gonioscopy and should have been done.
If i am honest, if your pressures are genuinely almost 50, then I would not want to wait at least 4 weeks to have them re checked. I would not also want to be simply prescribed one drop by a nurse. The aim of glaucoma treatment is very simple, to reduce the pressure to a level that will stop any progression of damage to the nerve in the eye from occurring. Who knows what that pressure will be for you? It could be 16, 21 or 30mmHg, but until you have had several visual field tests and several follow up appointments then nobody will know. I can tell you however that a pressure that high can cause other problems such as blocked veins that can permanently and suddenly reduce your vision. It needs lowering. Prostaglandin eye drops don't have a quick onset of action and wont 'instantly' reduce your pressure. I would first want a more detailed explanation/diagnosis, other than glaucoma, and then would want my pressures lowering quickly, probably with diamox tablets and several eye drops. I would want my intraocular pressures checked again within 5 days. You can then, once within a reasonable presure range, stop the tablets and some of the drops. If you are seen in say 6 weeks, as NHS appointments can sometimes be delayed, and your pressure is still over 30mmHg because you have narrow angle glaucoma or some other problem that the nurse did not spot then who knows what damage could be done. Phone up, or go back and get it sorted. Once your pressure is under control and documented to be so, then a follow up appointment in a glaucoma clinic in 4 weeks would be appropriate.
If you have been asymptomatic then your eye pressures in all reality may (but may not) have been elevated for quite some time. Your eye drop may reduce your intraocular pressure to within a reasonable range, but it may not. You will most likely be fine if you wait but you may not. Get a second opinion or see an ophthalmology registrar in an eye casualty. Some of them have a walk in service. But a pressure of 48 is simply too high to be 'conservative with' in my opinion.
Best wishes
Hey crag, thanks for the post, story is, went to opticians last yr for normal eye test and puff machine gave 22 reading. Got referred to hospital and went in aug 12 and did loads of tests (field tests, eye scans, eye probes and a big round glass type thing over my eye. Went again weds and same set of tests and then got td " take bitmaprost drops and come back"
Edit to adf, i am prescribed glasses for reading and will certainly be calling clinic on tues to ask/check these points
Edit further, i am also taking nasonex nasal spray for an ongoing, non related problem, been taking this for about 8mths
Edit to adf, i am prescribed glasses for reading and will certainly be calling clinic on tues to ask/check these points
Edit further, i am also taking nasonex nasal spray for an ongoing, non related problem, been taking this for about 8mths
Edited by Steve H on Saturday 30th March 23:09
Edited by Steve H on Saturday 30th March 23:48
Often routine follow ups for ocular hypertension and glaucoma suspect patients are performed by nurse practitioners for capacity issues regarding chronic eye conditions. In an ideal NHS all glaucoma suspects or glaucoma patients would be seen by a consultant. It sounds like initially with only a pressure of 22mmHg then all would have been considered routine and nothing to worry about. Being seen by a nurse in a follow up clinic in that situation, especially with likely normal visual fields, is entirely appropriate. But if your pressures had shot up to 43 and 48 on your follow up then obviously there has been a significant change. What I said I think still goes. If it was me, i would not want to wait 4 weeks to be re-assessed with a known pressure of 48. I would also have wanted a doctor (either consultant or experienced trainee) supervising that nurse to actually come into the clinic room and look at my eye with their bum on the seat right in front of me. I would not, in an ideal world, just want the nurse to nip down the corridor (if in fact she did), report her findings and then just give me a drop and say 'see you in around 4 weeks, if you are lucky'. The doctor who she would have likely asked has to rely on her opinion and examination findings being correct. He/she is more than likely going to be competent at her job, but she is not a glaucoma doctor at the end of the day. It may be controversial, but not all doctors are up to an appropriate standard, particularly european temporary locums that slip into the system given EU regulations, let alone nurses. Specialist nurses are fine if they operate within the realms of their limits (generally routine POAG patients on follow up visits with well controlled pressures) and with an appropriate amount of supervision. A 43 year old with a pressure of 48 in my opinion should be actually seen in the flesh by a doctor once this change is noted.
It is highly unlikely that anything negative will come from you having a raised pressure in the short term. In all reality it could have been elevated for many months at that level and nothing has happened. Pressures fluctuate on a daily basis. However, my concern with a pressure that high would be more than simply a progression of any visual field defect but also the risk of a central/branch retinal vein occlusion, as unlikely as they are to occur (which is unlikely by the way so don't panic). If you genuinely do have a newly documented pressure of 48 then if i was an eye doctor I think I would have lowered it as quick as possible to avoid the risk completely and would have only been completely happy after reviewing you again in a couple of days to know for sure it was below 30. Why wait 4 weeks? Why just give you one drop? If you are booked into see a doctor in 4 weeks-hence you are deemed non routine for the nurse to follow you up anymore, then why did the doctor not just have a quick look at you there and then? Is it because it wasn't needed or is it because it could be delayed to a time when they wouldn't be overbooked and perhaps not miss their lunch or go home later than they already would be? Is that follow up period best practice and the best way of looking after your eyes or is it a capacity issue and there are no appointments before then. Does someone not want their clinics overbooking? If you get a vein blockage, which you won't, but say if you did, then serious questions would understandably be asked. People go private for a reason. Get seen sooner and by a doctor.
Eye pressures in hospital are checked using a tiny probe (called a Goldman tonometer) that touches the surface of your eye while your chin is on the rest. You will know when they did that as they will have turned the light blue to do it. They use a hand held lens to look at the state of your nerve at the back of your eye. The contact lens would be obvious because they would have held it against your eye for a more prolonged period than the tonometer while your chin was on the slit lamp rest and you would have likely felt a jelly running down your cheek as they use a lubricating substance on its surface.
It is highly unlikely that anything negative will come from you having a raised pressure in the short term. In all reality it could have been elevated for many months at that level and nothing has happened. Pressures fluctuate on a daily basis. However, my concern with a pressure that high would be more than simply a progression of any visual field defect but also the risk of a central/branch retinal vein occlusion, as unlikely as they are to occur (which is unlikely by the way so don't panic). If you genuinely do have a newly documented pressure of 48 then if i was an eye doctor I think I would have lowered it as quick as possible to avoid the risk completely and would have only been completely happy after reviewing you again in a couple of days to know for sure it was below 30. Why wait 4 weeks? Why just give you one drop? If you are booked into see a doctor in 4 weeks-hence you are deemed non routine for the nurse to follow you up anymore, then why did the doctor not just have a quick look at you there and then? Is it because it wasn't needed or is it because it could be delayed to a time when they wouldn't be overbooked and perhaps not miss their lunch or go home later than they already would be? Is that follow up period best practice and the best way of looking after your eyes or is it a capacity issue and there are no appointments before then. Does someone not want their clinics overbooking? If you get a vein blockage, which you won't, but say if you did, then serious questions would understandably be asked. People go private for a reason. Get seen sooner and by a doctor.
Eye pressures in hospital are checked using a tiny probe (called a Goldman tonometer) that touches the surface of your eye while your chin is on the rest. You will know when they did that as they will have turned the light blue to do it. They use a hand held lens to look at the state of your nerve at the back of your eye. The contact lens would be obvious because they would have held it against your eye for a more prolonged period than the tonometer while your chin was on the slit lamp rest and you would have likely felt a jelly running down your cheek as they use a lubricating substance on its surface.
Edited by CragGriff500 on Sunday 31st March 00:24
CragGriff500 said:
Eye pressures in hospital are checked using a tiny probe (called a Goldman tonometer) that touches the surface of your eye while your chin is on the rest. You will know when they did that as they will have turned the light blue to do it. They use a hand held lens to look at the state of your nerve at the back of your eye. The contact lens would be obvious because they would have held it against your eye for a more prolonged period than the tonometer while your chin was on the slit lamp rest and you would have likely felt a jelly running down your cheek as they use a lubricating substance on its surface.
Yes they did all of this, to be honest I was in a bit of a state of shock and didnt take it all in. I really appreciate the time you guys have taken to reply, there is some great advice and info. My plan is to call on Tues and speak to the glaucoma nurse who saw me and discuss my questions in more detail. I will report back!!Edited by CragGriff500 on Sunday 31st March 00:24
Once again, thanks for your time and I will try and get on and enjoy the rest of my bank holiday.
Steve
I've suffered Glaucoma since I was 9 months old. I've been lucky, in that my sight has been preserved at 20/20 vision with no impairments. I'm treated at Moorfields and have been since diagnosis.
Both my children are also under a paediatric consultant there, my son unfortunately has also suffered from the condition since birth, my daughter appears to be clear. I cannot recommend their level of care high enough.
To echo others, if your IOP is mid-40s you really need to get prompt treatment to get it lowered ASAP. Please go to your GP and get a referral to a local eye hospital for initial treatment, with a follow up to Moorfields once your pressures are under control.
Please do not delay, as the longer the high pressure is prolonged the more damage will be done.
Both my children are also under a paediatric consultant there, my son unfortunately has also suffered from the condition since birth, my daughter appears to be clear. I cannot recommend their level of care high enough.
To echo others, if your IOP is mid-40s you really need to get prompt treatment to get it lowered ASAP. Please go to your GP and get a referral to a local eye hospital for initial treatment, with a follow up to Moorfields once your pressures are under control.
Please do not delay, as the longer the high pressure is prolonged the more damage will be done.
I too was shocked to be told I had glaucoma. My field vision was not 'spot on' and I was referred to a specialist optician who prescribed me drops to lower the pressure. After a 2nd appointment with her I was then referred to the Eye department at the hospital and I cannot thank them enough for the thorough tests they have done so far.I had Travatan drops to start but now on Lumigan and my pressure has improved.
My last appointment 3 weeks ago I saw a different cosultant who said the glaucoma had very slight deteriation from my last appointment 6 months prior and wants to see me again in 4mths. I was not entirely happy with this consultant as he was running late with appointments and it was very close to lunchtime,in fact I felt he rushed through things.
I had the DVLA test and my field vision was perfect.This was with their selected optician.
Do have very regular checks.
My last appointment 3 weeks ago I saw a different cosultant who said the glaucoma had very slight deteriation from my last appointment 6 months prior and wants to see me again in 4mths. I was not entirely happy with this consultant as he was running late with appointments and it was very close to lunchtime,in fact I felt he rushed through things.
I had the DVLA test and my field vision was perfect.This was with their selected optician.
Do have very regular checks.
Edited by SPR2 on Sunday 31st March 21:44
Dear Steve H,
You may be interested there is a charity in the UK specifically for glaucoma patients and you might find it useful to contact their help line on 01233 648170. They give out all sorts of patient information leaflets free of charge. Their web address is www.glaucoma-association.com
You may be interested there is a charity in the UK specifically for glaucoma patients and you might find it useful to contact their help line on 01233 648170. They give out all sorts of patient information leaflets free of charge. Their web address is www.glaucoma-association.com
First of all a big thanks to you all for taking the time to write your replies, a lot of info, help and detail was given and I am really grateful.
I have now had a chance to speak again with the hospital and it would seem that I got the level of the pressures wrong.....I have a GDX of 43 in Left eye and 48 in Right eye. The pressures they are more keen to monitor are 22/26 left/right, which to be honest is a bit of a relief after working myself into a bit of a state over the weekend.
The Nurse who saw me is a Senior Glaucoma specialist Nurse and she and the consultant have put me on Bitmaprost (1 drop in each eye, once a day) and they will expect to see a 20% reduction after use. She has asked to see me again on the 2/7/13.
I have POAG Glaucoma (open) and my cup:disc ratio was 0.3 left and 0.4 right.
I apologise to everyone for providing the wrong info in the original post but I didnt take any notes and obviously only took in limited info when I saw her as I was in quite a bit of shock.
Based on the advice given by you guys the above does make me feel a bit better because it is not as severe as first thought. Still a bit down that at my age I have this but hey, there are a lot of people getting a lot worse news today than that.
I am going to join the IGA and will look at the charities/services recommended.
Once again, I really appreciate the time you have all taken to guide me.
Steve
I have now had a chance to speak again with the hospital and it would seem that I got the level of the pressures wrong.....I have a GDX of 43 in Left eye and 48 in Right eye. The pressures they are more keen to monitor are 22/26 left/right, which to be honest is a bit of a relief after working myself into a bit of a state over the weekend.
The Nurse who saw me is a Senior Glaucoma specialist Nurse and she and the consultant have put me on Bitmaprost (1 drop in each eye, once a day) and they will expect to see a 20% reduction after use. She has asked to see me again on the 2/7/13.
I have POAG Glaucoma (open) and my cup:disc ratio was 0.3 left and 0.4 right.
I apologise to everyone for providing the wrong info in the original post but I didnt take any notes and obviously only took in limited info when I saw her as I was in quite a bit of shock.
Based on the advice given by you guys the above does make me feel a bit better because it is not as severe as first thought. Still a bit down that at my age I have this but hey, there are a lot of people getting a lot worse news today than that.
I am going to join the IGA and will look at the charities/services recommended.
Once again, I really appreciate the time you have all taken to guide me.
Steve
I HAD! Glaucoma about five years ago and I find all of the above strange.I went to my GP,told him the symptoms,(I had a good idea what it was as my mother had it)He immediately referred me to the eye department at The Royal Berkshire Hospital.After a few tests in the morning I was told to stay and they performed laser surgery on the affected eye in the afternoon and I went home that evening.They then did the same job to the other eye the next month,just in case,as they said.I then had to back on regular appointments for check ups all clear job done,no drops or drugs.
Am I missing something here?is there different levels? or am I very lucky? I was told that Glaucoma is a serious condition,can cause blindness and surgery is essential.
Am I missing something here?is there different levels? or am I very lucky? I was told that Glaucoma is a serious condition,can cause blindness and surgery is essential.
Old Merc said:
I HAD! Glaucoma about five years ago and I find all of the above strange.I went to my GP,told him the symptoms,(I had a good idea what it was as my mother had it)He immediately referred me to the eye department at The Royal Berkshire Hospital.After a few tests in the morning I was told to stay and they performed laser surgery on the affected eye in the afternoon and I went home that evening.They then did the same job to the other eye the next month,just in case,as they said.I then had to back on regular appointments for check ups all clear job done,no drops or drugs.
Am I missing something here?is there different levels? or am I very lucky? I was told that Glaucoma is a serious condition,can cause blindness and surgery is essential.
In the 42 years I've had it I've seen many treatments come and go.Am I missing something here?is there different levels? or am I very lucky? I was told that Glaucoma is a serious condition,can cause blindness and surgery is essential.
Back in the early 80s laser surgery was popular as it cauterises the wound and prevents healing.
My son has had both goniotomies and a single trabeculectomy, both are done using standard surgical methods, albeit at a microscopic level!
I've been lucky to avoid surgery and use Pilocarpine drops, a tried and trusted medication.
My son is currently on a form of Lumigan, which is being trialled.
His consultant, Prof Khaw at Moorfields is one of the top people on the planet for paediatric glaucoma, and he doesn't solely use one method of treatment.
Steve H said:
Hey crag, thanks for the post, story is, went to opticians last yr for normal eye test and puff machine gave 22 reading. Got referred to hospital and went in aug 12 and did loads of tests (field tests, eye scans, eye probes and a big round glass type thing over my eye. Went again weds and same set of tests and then got td " take bitmaprost drops and come back"
Edit to adf, i am prescribed glasses for reading and will certainly be calling clinic on tues to ask/check these points
Edit further, i am also taking nasonex nasal spray for an ongoing, non related problem, been taking this for about 8mths
Just a thought having re-read the thread, your nasal spray, does it contain anti-histhamines? They are usually recommended to be avoided if you suffer from raised intra-ocular pressure, as they can increase the pressure in the eye.Edit to adf, i am prescribed glasses for reading and will certainly be calling clinic on tues to ask/check these points
Edit further, i am also taking nasonex nasal spray for an ongoing, non related problem, been taking this for about 8mths
Edited by Steve H on Saturday 30th March 23:09
Edited by Steve H on Saturday 30th March 23:48
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