Any glaucoma sufferers out there?

[Zhade]

Six years ago, my then-optometrist suspected I might have glaucoma.

Fast forward to my next eye exam...six years later (yes I know that was stupid, I've already berated myself for waiting so damn long) and my new optometrist, who has never spoken to the old one whose name escapes me, suspects I have it, and is concerned with how bad my eyes are at my age (turned 31 in June). He can't figure out why my field of vision isn't as bad as would be expected (I have a theory based on the past five years of self-medication :smoke: but he doesn't know).

While on a road trip up to Vancouver BC, I noticed that I could feel the pressure changes in my eyes more than my ears. It caused me pain, headaches, and eventually the need to turn over driving to my best friend due to tearing and bleary vision.

I just rediscovered the joy of drawing after 12 years' hiatus (imposed by my now-defeated belief that I couldn't learn how, which turned out not to be true) and am writing again after five years' stoppage to figure things out.

I'm trying to get a medical card (I'm in SoCal and have a place that will recommend it if I end up with a diagnosis) but I don't want to lose my vision! I think my smoking may have actually saved my vision without my realizing it until now.

I'm kinda scared. Hold me?

[Zhade]

1. No one?

NT!

[Nicole]

2. Not me but

maybe someone in the DU health forum?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=222

[Zhade]

3. Okay, I'll post it in there.

I was thinking about doing that anyway. Thanks for reminding me!

[politicat]

4. I do.

Same place, in a lot of ways. I'm 30, it's genetic, and I've got weird vision to begin with (myopia in one eye, hyperopia in the other) and I've got light eyes, so I'm sensitive to sunlight (though I've got GREAT night vision.)

As for the smoking, I can't say. I'm hideously allergic to that specific plant and it's not going to go away.

I've got low tension variant and my optic nerves are doing okay for the moment. So far, so good.

Here's the great news: the drugs really do work. I take the drops for one month out of every three, and they are slowing the progress really quickly. My grandmother, who also has glaucoma (though hers has progressed much more slowly than mine seems to be progressing) just had one of the surgical procedures that will preserve her sight, and the recovery time was almost zero. It is treatable and the tech is improving every week.

I'm also learning a lot about adaptive technology now, before I need it. One of the better reasons to switch to a Mac was the level of adaptive tech that is integrated. I'm learning Braille by sight right now and I'll start learning it by touch once I know it well by sight. I'm reading onto ipod for the local books for the blind group now while I can, and I'm digitizing those books I know I'll need and won't be able to get later. I've got between 15 and 20 years according to my opthamologist before I'm fully blind.

For now, I'm doing all of the things that I may not be able to do later (Like white water rafting, kayaking, and sooner or later, traveling) and really taking care of my hearing.

You'll be okay. This first year is the scariest.