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, and frankly I'm not sure what he'll do if he finds out).

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? :D

[graywarrior]

1. Aren't there drops to control that?

I was told I have pre-glaucoma a few years ago. Might get it, might not.

[Zhade]

3. Yes, one method is drops.

From what I understand, not as effective as :smoke:, but I may be wrong.

[femmocrat]

2. There are other ways to detect glaucoma....

you should have had a pressure check, not just visual fields. I also get something called an "HRT" which takes a picture inside the eye. Then they compare it to last year's picture, and do more pressure checks, etc. The treatment is pretty simple, just eyedrops so far.

The other symptoms you were having while driving don't sound (to me at least, but what do I know?) like glaucoma. You could need additional tests for those symptoms.

Sorry you are having such a difficult time. With a more accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, you might find out that it isn't as scary as you now think. Hopefully there is someone in DU who knows more about this, but in my experience it has not been a frightening ordeal.

[Zhade]

4. I had the HRT check, it was a cause for concern.

I am scheduled for another visit Friday after next.

Thanks for the kind words - I'm just unhappy with the thought of losing my sight just when I'm really using it to be happy.

[goclark]

5. Our thoughts are with you ~

My eyes are a constant worry.

I know how scared you must be.

[Zhade]

6. Thank you.

I'm not trying to be a drama queen. I just like being able to see - and draw and write again after years of wrestling with personal demons.

[goclark]

9. I understand completely nt

[mdpod]

7. Hello. You may be right.

Although I am not an optometrist, I am currently in school to become one. Go see your optometrist. It is true that IT does lower intraocular pressure but the mechanism is not well understood and I am NOT recommending IT over the preferable medications. There are a few medications available to maintain IOP's at optimal levels. Please go get checked out.

As for being nervous about telling your doc, just ask in a way that does not self-incriminate. Like, "I heard....". I consider doctor/patient confidentiality legally binding and would never disclose such information. I can not, with confidence, suggest that the optometrist is legally bound. I am just going into my 2nd year and I still have much to learn about ethics and law pertaining to my field. Take care friend and I will meet you at four twenty. Peace.

[DemExpat]

8. My father had it for years, which was handled with drops,

and my mother had macular degeneration really bad in one eye, so I know how the fear of losing eyesight can be!

I get my eyes checked every other year now to keep tabs on mine.

All the best, and hope that you get treatment and peace of mind asap.

DemEx

[madokie]

10. self medicating for 37 years

still no glaucoma

[shanine]

11. re: glaucoma

Hi Zhade

I am an RN and work for an ophthalmologist. The doctor has many, many patients that are glaucoma "suspects" meaning they may or may not develop glaucoma, but he keeps a special watch on these patients. There are different pieces of the puzzle . . that is the pressure is one piece, the way the optic nerve looks with the pupils dilated is another, the thickness of the cornea (If a patient's cornea is thicker than what the average thickness is based on then that patient's pressure will be lower.) The visual field test another, which in my experience seems to be the tell all.
Some people have higher pressures . . some people have strange looking nerves . . and that may just be normal for them.
Normally one would not feel higher pressure in the eyes unless it was acute, and by acute I mean excruciating pain and immediate change in vision, dizziness, vomiting, etc.
Some people can have early signs, one or more but never actually develop it or suffer from it.
One's pressure would have to be sky high for a long period of time for it to do damage to the vision.
If I were you I would go to an ophthalmologist for a complete eye exam and see where you really stand.
As far as the self medicating goes my boss tells me the effects don't come close to matching the effectiveness of drops if needed. But I would suppose that would depend on how much self medicating was involved, etc.
Hope this helps a little.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. Why not learn about the materials that treat/prevent this sort

of issue... I mean, it really cannot hurt you.

1: Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2004 Jul;24(4):339-49.Click here to read Links
An ideal ocular nutritional supplement?

* Bartlett H,
* Eperjesi F.

Neurosciences Research Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. [e-mail]

The role of nutritional supplementation in prevention of onset or progression of ocular disease is of interest to health care professionals and patients. The aim of this review is to identify those antioxidants most appropriate for inclusion in an ideal ocular nutritional supplement, suitable for those with a family history of glaucoma, cataract, or age-related macular disease, or lifestyle factors predisposing onset of these conditions, such as smoking, poor nutritional status, or high levels of sunlight exposure. It would also be suitable for those with early stages of age-related ocular disease. Literature searches were carried out on Web of Science and PubMed for articles relating to the use of nutrients in ocular disease.

Those highlighted for possible inclusion were vitamins A, B, C and E, carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, minerals selenium and zinc, and the herb, Ginkgo biloba. Conflicting evidence is presented for vitamins A and E in prevention of ocular disease; these vitamins have roles in the production of rhodopsin and prevention of lipid peroxidation respectively. B vitamins have been linked with a reduced risk of cataract and studies have provided evidence supporting a protective role of vitamin C in cataract prevention. Beta-carotene is active in the prevention of free radical formation, but has been linked with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers.

Improvements in visual function in patients with age-related macular disease have been noted with lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation. Selenium has been linked with a reduced risk of cataract and activates the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage while zinc, although an essential component of antioxidant enzymes, has been highlighted for risk of adverse effects. As well as reducing platelet aggregation and increasing vasodilation, Gingko biloba has been linked with improvements in pre-existing field damage in some patients with normal tension glaucoma. We advocate that vitamins C and E, and lutein/zeaxanthin should be included in our theoretically ideal ocular nutritional supplement.

PMID: 15228513

[Deb]

13. Your post may have saved my eyesight

THANK YOU!!!!! I needed the wakeup.

Several months ago my new GP made a referral to my ophthalmologist. I naturally have large eye cups and a higher risk of glaucoma but it's always turned out to be nothing. Thinking this was a "same old" waste of time and money, I canceled. Until I read your post and realized that it's been 5 years since I too had seen the ophthalmologist.

Turns out that not only am I at high risk of open angle glaucoma but extreme high risk of closed angle glaucoma damage. In fact the pink eye that sent me to the GP was probably sub-acute closed angle attacks.

The ophthalmologist wouldn't even dilate my eyes for fear of causing an attack that would damage my nerves. I'm scheduled for an iridotomy in each eye, fingers crossed it works.

How are you doing now? Sending all the good thoughts your way.:hug: