Anyone have glaucoma?

[Marita40]

Freaking out a little because I was just diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye. It is a fairly rare kind, pigmentary dispersion, which typically strikes younger males (I am an older woman). My eye pressure is jumping all over the place as they are trying different drops. I've been in and out of the eye clinic for two weeks now, and I go to a glaucoma specialist next week.


What is scary is that if I hadn't been diagnosed in a routine eye check visit, I'd have no idea I have this condition. There are no symptoms at all.


Just another day in paradise Does anyone have glaucoma and a story to tell, preferably with a good outcome? I understand that there are levels of different drops and oral medications until surgery is indicated, and that there is a laser treatment as well.

 

[target2019]

Yeah, getting your eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist is important. I don't have a story, but usually go to medline as my first line of research.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001620.htm

 

[MichaelB]

My mother has glaucoma. Eye drops are effective for most people. She had an Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty done about 10 years ago but it had no effect.

No need to freak out. It’s diagnosed and you’re under treatment. You’ll probably need annual screening for the other eye, but that’s no big deal. I get mine because glaucoma is heriditary. It’s also a condition that is alleviated by cannibis, and in most states is one of the conditions eligible for medical marijuana.

 

[Dawg52]

After being categorized as a 'glaucoma suspect' several years ago, my dr started treatments 4 months ago as my eye pressure bounced upward from 14 to 16 and a scan of the optic nerve showed a slight change in one eye. So I take one drop of latanoprost each night in both eyes. Had a check up yesterday and my eye pressure dropped to 12. Will have another scan done next trip. As of now they say I will need to go in for checks every 4 months but hope I can stretch that to every 6 months if I get a few good check ups from here. As far as my vision goes...... it is good, I haven't noticed a change.

 

[MRG]

My late DM and my older sister both had/have it. Both were able to use drops. I know it's impacted my sister more than DM.

Thank you for sharing and reinforcing the importance of yearly Opthamologist exams. Another cow*rker's melanoma was discovered by an eye exam.

 

[latexman]

I have pigment glaucoma in my right eye. 61 yo male. Never had high pressure. It was found by a field of vision test. I use a drop of Latanoprost each night in BOTH eyes. Latanoprost stimulates eye lash growth, so I don't want to be lopsided. Pressure is stable in the 14-16 area.

 

[Jerry1]

I've been in and out of the eye clinic for two weeks now, and I go to a glaucoma specialist next week.

No freaking out until you get to the specialist. Should have gone there immediately. My rule of thumb is that general practitioner, second level care providers and such are fine until they identify a problem, them I’m off to the experts. In my case, that would be U of M. Their biggest problem is how expensive they are, but there’s just no way that I’ve found to get around that. Hoping for the best for you.

 

[pacergal]

Yes, diagnosed years ago. High pressure readings, Ophthalmologist says he would never know by exam, as everything looks great inside my eyeball!
Use drops nightly, finally have an RX that some that doesn't sting as much. I use lubricating eye drops several minutes beforehand as I have dry eyes also.
Grandparent and parent also had glaucoma, so I knew it was a possibility.

 

[tominboise]

Yes - I have glaucoma. I am 58.91 years old and have been on eyedrops since 1986, when I was first diagnosed with high intraocular pressure. Since then I have been able to control my pressures with various drops (all hugely expensive - Thank goodness for insurance plans). I do pressure checks twice a year and visual field tests once per year. I have a very large "cup" - the interns love to look into my eyes on their tours. As my ophthalmologist says, he is trying to keep my vision functional until I die. I do now have any loss of vision at the moment.

 

[Paracelsus]

I have glaucoma also (I'm 57). Never have had a high pressure reading in the eyes, just normal. I first noticed some vision loss about a decade ago in one eye and got the diagnosis. Tried about four or five different drops over the next three years, but they were ineffective and I continued to lose sight. I did have the laser treatment and that didn't work. Finally had a surgical drainage hole put in that eye and the pressure has remained very low (<10) since then. I'm not sure if I'm still losing some vision or not in that eye. My other eye started losing vision and we skipped directly to the surgical procedure and they put in an implant drain. That drain got clogged up and I was put back on drops for that eye. That's where I am today - I massage one eye to keep the hole open and drops for the other eye. Not sure if there's a good effect from the drops as my pressure reads normal, which is where my eye always is. My vision in my better eye is good enough to drive and have a normal life. The vision in the bad eye is enough to help keep my balance, but I would not drive if that were my only eye.

Having glaucoma is one reason I chose an early retirement at 55 so I could see as much as I wanted before possibly losing my vision.

 

[Dtail]

Does anyone use Ocuvite pills as a possible preventive measure for glaucoma/macular degeneration?

 

[Cut-Throat]

Just a few facts about Increased eye Pressure and glaucoma.


************************************************************
Eye pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal eye pressure ranges from 12-22 mm Hg, and eye pressure of greater than 22 mm Hg is considered higher than normal. When the IOP is higher than normal but the person does not show signs of glaucoma, this is referred to as ocular hypertension.



Increased eye pressure means you are at risk for glaucoma, but does not mean you have the disease. A person has glaucoma only if the optic nerve is damaged. If you have increased eye pressure but no damage to the optic nerve, you do not have glaucoma. However, you are at risk.
*************************************************************

 

[LauAnn]

Yep, high IOP discovered 20 years ago. Have been on drops, once a day, since then. See specialist every 6 months, and have a visual field test once a year. So far, minimal loss of vision.

 

[LauAnn]

Does anyone use Ocuvite pills as a possible preventive measure for glaucoma/macular degeneration?

Yes, but I use the off-brand version. Eye doctor recommended I take them for general eye health, not necessarily for glaucoma, but rather for healthier retinas.

 

[Live And Learn]

I have high pressures in my eyes (around 22). First line of attack were laser iridotomies (wholes put into the iris with a laser). That worked for many years. Then had SLT surgery in both eyes. Pressures are starting to go up again so will probably repeat the SLTs. I am hoping to avoid drops for as long as possible although I sometimes long for the increased eyelash side effects !

 

[Cut-Throat]

I am hoping to avoid drops for as long as possible ...................

Why? -- They are very simple and pretty cheap.

 

[gerntz]

I had high pressure - mid 20's for a couple of years before they put me on drops - one per eye per evening. Pressures now in upper teens. My stuff is bimatoprost (Lumigan brand). I didn't want to start drops either, but after a few weeks it's like taking my clothes off to go to bed - less than NBD.

Dr. said I have thick corneas that can cause readings to be a few mm Hg higher than typical. Makes sense that I do given the thickness of the rest of my head. I also get periodic field of vision tests to check that glaucoma isn't starting. Those things drive me nuts trying to concentrate.

 

[healthyandfun]

I have had open angle glaucoma for going on thirty years and it was also discovered during a routine eye exam. I have taken various eye drops over the years. Some seemed to lose their effectiveness after a few years and I had reactions to others so there was a bit of tinkering going on over time. I have also had various laser procedures (around 14), two in hospital surgeries, plus stents inserted during cataract surgeries. The stents worked for just over two years and during that time I used no medication. I now use a single drop of Latanoprost in each eye at bedtime. Pressures and tests have been good recently.

My advice would be to find the best specialist that deals with lots of glaucoma patients and develop a relationship with them for the long haul, educate yourself on your particular type of glaucoma, and follow the testing and monitoring schedule set up by the specialist. Any changes in the field test or optic nerve test should be addressed ASAP. Follow directions on taking medication exactly. Develop a routine so you don’t forget.
Treating glaucoma has been a minor annoyance in my life and in the grand scheme of things if one has to have a disease, having glaucoma is not so bad.

 

[Live And Learn]

I am hoping to avoid drops for as long as possible ...

Why? -- They are very simple and pretty cheap.

I have an issue with compliance I miss my statin at least 2x a week. It's a good thing I'm retired and don't have much to be disciplined about these days !

 

[friar1610]

I'm 73 and have had glaucoma for a long time (20+ years). It's hereditary and my mother had it. I have taken different drops in various combinations forever. I'm currently on 3 different drops that I take a total of 4x per day. Thank God for alarms on smartphones! It seems like I'm always taking drops - a bit of an inconvenience but it beats the hell out of blindness!

I've had ALT/SLT laser procedures that were largely ineffective. I've had a trabeculectomy on one eye. I was able to go w/o drops in that eye for 6 months or so but the pressures gradually increased and I'm back on drops in that eye now.

I get the VF tests 1-2 X per year (and really hate them because it's hard to stay focused and they're boring). According to them, my peripheral vision has very slowly deteriorated over the years. But I don't notice the deterioration, probably because it's been so gradual. (Lucky I'm not in the NBA because it migh hurt my performance there).

I see an excellent ophthalmologist at Mass Eye & Ear 3x annually. Except for the minor inconvenience of taking the drops so often and taking the T into Boston for the appointments, glaucoma has had no negative impact on my quality of life.

 

[Corporateburnout]

A few years ago DW pressure in both eyes went up to 25 mm but no nerve damage. She was prescribed Timolol eye drops and the pressure has been ranging around 15. She get her eyes checked twice a year.

 

[Marita40]

I'm now under the care of a specialist. There is no explanation for why the pressure in my right eye spiked two weeks ago. I go back next week for another check. Right now they've got me on two drops twice a day.
It is scary that this can come out of the blue! The doctor did not recommend the laser procedure--yet, that is. I have no problem at all taking drops. What is difficult is not necessarily knowing when the pressure spikes.

BTW--within a few years, said one of my eye doctors--there may be a special contact lens on the market that will allow people to know when their eye pressure spikes. Great idea!