Glaucoma

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!"

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?.

Sorry. IPad! Meant cataract operation!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Grandma60 I was diagnosed wth narrow angle a year ago - it is a rare condition.

Firstly I had the laser treatment ( painless) which was a success. My consultant then said I should consider having my cataracts done within the next year or so (I'm 68) because that would help the pressure problem from recurring.

I asked if there was any reason i couldn't have them done sooner rather than later and he said that was fine and both ops were done in March and May last year. I was signed off in September.

Wishing you luck for your cataract op

Thank you Santababy Yes isn't it great how sites like Gransnet enable people who would never have spoken to each other to communicate! I often wonder what my Mother and Grandmother would of made of it. I had I had wonderful support on another matter a couple of years ago.Mind you there is nothing like grandchildren for taking your mind off things is there?
I will definitely let you know how the op goes. It seems to be quite routine surgery. I expect lots of people on here have had it done.

Grandma60,

So sorry your op has been put off, sometimes it is easier to deal with things before you have had time to worry about them I find. Thinking about you and wishing you well.

How lucky we are to be able to use technology to reassure one another. Not all progress is a bad thing! Please let me know how you are after the op.

Absolutely exhausted today after lively grandchildren at half term but so lucky in so many ways. Do so hope you feel the same!.

Hello Santababy It's nice to hear from you. I have been wondering how you were getting on.I'm glad to hear that your GP has been able to reassure you.I do remember the fear and panic I felt when I was diagnosed. My cataract op has been put off till 29th Feb. I will let you know how it goes.Please keep in touch if you would like to. Thank you Grandmaowl and everyone else who has posted. It is so encouraging to hear others success story's.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I was referred to my local hospital who prescribed Travoprost eye drops which I instill daily, and so far it has been controlled. Regular eye checks are so important

Grandma60, thank you for your kind words a few weeks ago, they were very reassuring. I have since seen my GP to clarify a few points and feel so much better. My next ophthalmologist appointment is at the end of March so will wait and see.

I do hope your cataract op went well and that the treatment will bring good results. very best wishes from me to you and thanks again.

I didn't mention it before but I have narrow angle glaucoma which is apparently more difficult to treat. Has anyone had any experience of this?

I have had glaucoma for 16 years and it is controlled by eye drops, about 3 years ago I was given a second type of eye drop for one eye as the pressure was getting a bit high. My field tests show no new damage in all this time which is a relief as my father went blind in old age. My sister developed glaucoma more recently and because she pays to go privately, had laser treatment to reduce the pressure. So, although everyone is different, the diagnosis is not something you usually need to panic about as long as you are under the care of a specialist that you see regularly.

About five years ago the normal eye test in a branch of Specsavers showed that my eye pressure was getting too high. I was referred to the hospital and lots of tests and prescribed Xalatan drops which I use nightly. By the next hospital check six months later my pressure was normal. I still use the drops. Here in France where the system for eye tests is totally different I asked for a appointment to see a consultant but was basically sent to a normal optician who did fewer tests than Specsavers - all she said was I had the right prescription glasses! I have since had another eye test at Specsavers and they compared the latest photo of my eye and all looks well. They wrote to the hospital and explained my problem and treatment here (France) and the hospital contacted me quickly with an appointment. An examination on an OCT machine is needed to check the eyes for this condition.
i think that there is not enough information about this condition and it is far more complicated than just the eye pressure.

Exactly Grandma60, I have dear friends dealing with cancer and that certainly should have made me feel ashamed to be so scared. Still we can only cope with the here and now.

I am so glad you feel more in control and will keep you in mind as an example. Such lovely people on here. Thank you to all, aren't Gransnetters fab. Sorry...child of the 60s!