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Angle closure glaucoma at 24

Posted , 5 users are following.

n1992
n1992

Hi

I was diagnosed with angle closure glaucoma, my filed visions came out terrible, my peripheral vision is very damaged and little bit of central vision.

I'm 24 and freaking out about the future and if might lose my sight completely. My specialist said surgery is the next step.

My eye pressure has been manageable for a month now using drops.

Is there anyone living with angle closure glaucoma on here and can you please just provide me some guidance on this situation and what to look out for in terms of surgeries and medication.

PLEASE !

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • ros94027
    ros94027 n1992

    Posted

    Hi there, I'm so sorry to hear you've been diagnosed at such a young age. Must be very upsetting. I am sure with the new treatments these days you don't need to go blind. Have you heard of Bono from U2? He has had glaucoma for more than 20 years now and says he 'is fine'. He is 55 now. I had an aunt who lived to 99 and was diagnosed at about 50 or 60 with glaucoma, and wasn't blind. Your drops seem to be doing the trick, and I'm sure if you just keep on visiting your eye specialist he will be able to keep you up to date with the lastest treatments. 

    • n1992
      n1992 ros94027

      Posted

      Hi

      Thank you for replying and your kind words of reassurance. It has been very upsetting. I was told I'm going to have trabeculectomy surgery, to stabilise the pressure.

      The only thing that worries me is the extensive damage that the field test showed.

      I didn't know Bono had glaucoma.

      Thank you for your reply.

  • elizabeth85938
    elizabeth85938 n1992

    Posted

    Hi,

    ​A year ago I suffered Sudden Onset Acute Angled Closure Glaucoma and my IOP was 58. Over a period of 36 hours I noticed my eye was watering from the outer eye and would not stop. 16 hours later my eye was red and suddenly I experienced terrible pain in the outer eye followed by loss of sight but halos of orange and red colours behind a whitish gauze. I went to my GP who told me to get to the Eye Clinic at hospital within an hour as it was a real emergency. When I got there a team was waiting for me and a Specialist Registrar tried for nearly 4 hours to get the eye pressure down. By this time I had been dry retching for over 9 hours! Eventually the pressure fell enough for them to admit me (this was 11pm) and I was scheduled for laser eye surgery at 7.45 next morning. After 4 hours I was told that the surgery was successful and to cut a long story short I have regular check ups at the Eye Clinic to monitor pressure. After surgery there were only eye drops for about a month  after which nothing else needed. I tell you all of this to give you hope that if surgery is carried out you can return hopefully to a normal life with your precious eyesight saved. Sometimes peripheral vision can still be affected but that is better than no vision at all. I have to have yearly eye tests at my opticians and find that with a new prescription and transition lenses all is well with me. If they decide to do surgery the aim is to open up the drainage channels so that pressure should no longer build up and I do hope they decide to do this sooner rather than later because as such a young person you need reassurance and help and above all HOPE. Try not to get too anxious about your condition because the Consultants and Specialist Registrars know exactly what they are doing and when to carry out laser eye surgery. Ask as many questions as you can and trust in their answers. I wish you all the best and please let us know how things are with you from time to time.

    • n1992
      n1992 elizabeth85938

      Posted

      Hi

      I'm so happy to hear you are alright now and how efficiently it was all done.

      I had headaches for a while and blurry vision I went to opticians thinking maybe my prescription glasses are getting weaker or something. After a few tests and questions about my family history (which no one has glaucoma) she handed me a letter; asked me to go to the eye clinic that day. My IOP was 49.

      It was shocking to find out.

      It was scary to see the results of my

      field tests

      The sad part it is not a common

      disease and people know little about it, my parents don't get it, my sister who I'm very close to is scared for me which makes it even hard to open up to her because I just don't wanna worry her more.

      I'm sorry for that long rant, I felt alone in this for a month.

      Im greatful to read your story, thank you for sharing.

      I hope things progress for me as efficient and successful as it has for you.

      Xx

    • elizabeth85938
      elizabeth85938 n1992

      Posted

      ?This is only a suggestion - could you confide a little more in your sister and ask her to go with you for your eye appointments? Sometimes sharing in this way brings you even closer and you will have the support you really need.If you explain to her everything you are told etc she will be so busy helping you she won't have time to worry. I felt terribly alone in my emergency situation and when I was discharged I didn't even have my handbag with my mobile and purse (these were left behind when my neighbour drove me to the GP) so I had no way to telephone anyone or pay for a 10 mile journey home. I hope you see why I would like you to involve your sister a little more. There are many forms of Glaucoma, mine being very rare indeed - so much so that even a Consultant may only see 1 or 2 such cases, or none at all, in their whole career. Mine is something to do with my eye shape and narrow drainage channels - yours may be completely different. This is why you must write all your questions down and insist on having time to ask them. I do hope you can make your sister an ally in this troubled time and I wish you all the best - you deserve a hand to hold and a big hug! xx

    • n1992
      n1992 elizabeth85938

      Posted

      Hi

      I will take your advice and actually ask her to come with me to appointments. And include her more and stop sugar coating everything the consultant tells me Lool

      Thank you for your advice, you have been so kind to me.

      I hope everything is well with you and good luck to you too

      Xxx

    • elizabeth85938
      elizabeth85938 n1992

      Posted

      I'm so pleased to hear it - Will be thinking of you and hope everything goes well. xx

    • elizabeth85938
      elizabeth85938 n1992

      Posted

      Hello again

      ?Just wondering how you are now and what if anything the Eye Specialist has done to help you? Do hope it has all worked out ok for you and I wish you a very happy Christmas smile

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