Glaucoma

Lucyinthesky Than you so much for replying. It's reassuring to know that the treatment worked for you. I,m 63 so it's a little early for having cataract treatment but my consultant is happy to do it as apparently it does help with the narrow angles. Being told it was a rare form of Glaucoma made it even more frightening. I assume you still use eye drops though?
Not looking forward to the cataract op but I know it will be worth it.
Thank you again

Hi Santababy Just wondered how you are getting on. I had to cancel the cataract op as I developed a bad cough a few days before. I'm waiting to be sent another appointment. Oh well perhaps 3rd time lucky!. Hope things are ok with you.

My family have a history of glaucoma, over three generations. Nobody in any generation has gone blind or suffered any serious decline in their vision.

I had cataracts removed from both eyes in my 60s. The best thing that ever happened to me! I was severely short-sighted from the age of 11 and always had trouble wearing contact lenses. The surgeon who did the cataract operation fitted prescription lenses into my eyes and as a result I now only need glasses for driving and distance viewing. After over 50 years of glasses/lenses wearing it is an absolute liberation.

That's interesting MOnica. The consultant has said he would prefer not to fit the prescription lenses in my eyes as he feels my eyesight will probably change, but even so my sight should be a lot clearer. At the moment everything is in soft focus!. Good to hear more successes with Glaucoma sufferers as well.

I was told that once the lenses are in place my eyesight will not deteriorate further. Although I still have regular eye tests for glaucoma and other eye problems. It is 10 years since my first cataract op and 5 years since the second and my sight has remained stable ever since.

You may have some problem with your eyes grandma60 that I do not have.

Yes MOnica The consultant did explain why he preferred not to use the prescription lenses for me but to be honest I had a lot to take in at the time so I am unsure exactly what he said. I do have great faith in him though so will take his advice. It must feel good though to no longer need glasses.

Its great! My eye sight was very poor, over -8 in one eye, a little less in the other. We are a very myopic family. DS qualifies for free eye tests as his sight is so bad. It also means that laser surgery to improve sight is unsuitable as well. I have been advising DS to develop cataracts as soon as possible, because of the advantages treating them brings!

I had my 1st cataract options on Monday. Not a difficult experience at all and the surgeon managed to open up the angle in the eye which should help keep the pressure low. Already colours seem much brighter and our small bedroom TV appears much clearer! Just need the other eye done now as it does feel I'm wearing the wrong glasses.

Sorry. IPad! Meant cataract operation!

Hi Grandma 60,
So glad your first cataract op went well. I wondered how long you would have to wait, much better to get it over with I am sure. Thank you so much for keeping in touch. I hope that the next is as successful . I saw my consultant on Monday and it went ok.
Apparently I have a large optic nerve but it is " definite suspicious" !. The pressures are still within normal levels though. I will return for another field test etc in a year. ( I have a feeling I may have clicked a little too frequently during the field test as he told me the results were unreliable.)

Suspicious and unreliable...it doesn't make me sound like a very upstanding citizen does it?.

I have been nagging nay suggesting to my DH for quite some time to get his eyes tested-why should he? Never needed glasses!!
I go regularly as I have been short sighted since childhood. A few years ago they started retinal photography so have something to compare each year.
Finally got DH to go-was he sheepish on his return! High pressures of 32 in each eye (apparently should be 32!).
Started on drops one in each eye at night, after appointment to see consultant within a couple of weeks. Returns in May to see if levels have returned to normal.
Who knows how long the levels have been high!
I'm very relieved that, hopefully, it's been caught in time in which case I shall try to be gracious and not say "I told you so!"

A friend's Mum in her 80s had a benign tumour picked up on her regular retinal photo which was successfully removed-through her nose.
She recovered extremely well-so keep up with our regular check ups.
I hope all those who have posted with problems have the same success albeit with different problems.

HI Santababy Nice to hear from you. Good news that your pressures are ok and that you don't have to return for another year, even if you are suspicious and unreliable I hate field tests. Can't explain why they make me nervous, but they do.! The eye that had the cataract op is still doing well but I do feel a bit disoriented sometimes as it's like wearing the wrong glasses at the moment. Still the surgeon says he can do the other eye as soon as I feel ready. (I am lucky to have private health care through the Company that I work for). Please stay in touch if you would like to.

Newquay So glad you got your husband to go for a check up. I probably bore everyone to death telling them to have regular checks!

I was at hospital yesterday and met a lady having her cataract op, but she was also having a stent put in for glaucoma, to relieve the pressure. Never heard of stents in eyes before and it's still in the early stages I think.

It's good to know how many different things that are being worked on to help glaucoma sufferers. My surgeon did manage to widen the narrow angle in my eye when he did my cataract surgery, although he did warn me that they can close up again. Hopefully there will be an actual cure one day.