Glaucoma: How do you cope?

That sounds awful.   How long has it been going on for, and can you still see anything from your left eye?   We must live in hope that they will develop better treatments to keep the pressure down!   Best of luck!  

My first eye test at the age of 48 in 1990 discovered high pressures.    About 27 in both eyes.   No symptoms and examination showed no glaucoma either.    They did not put me on eyedrops until 1997.     Since then, pressures have wandered up and down between about 18 and 34, but still they say no glaucoma, as field tests are perfect.    SLT laser treatment on right eye to lower pressures a few years ago.    It made no difference to pressure, but the vision in it improved considerably, although it was good to start with  (although they said the SLT had nothing to do with it).     Last check up several weeks ago revealed pressures of 18 and 22, full visual fields and no glaucoma, and I am now 77.     But I got something called a CSR in left eye a few months ago where a bit of liquid gets under retina and causes some slight distortion of straight lines when looking at things close up.    I had it 20 years or so ago.   They said it would eventually get better of its own accord, and it did, until returning in the summer.   It is now improving again, so I hope it will soon be gone.    It isn't really noticeable when out and about, and I still don't wear distance glasses except when driving.    I do a lot of very fine work, (See attached)  and I find that helps.   Maybe it takes the place of eye exercises.     I don't worry about it anywhere near as much as I did in the first few years.     I know it helped to talk with others when I first found out about the pressures.   

Bob

 

Your story rings bells. I discovered I had glaucoma after 5 years of horrendous pain behind my left eye - felt like someone was stabbing me from inside. Brain scans, neurologists, you name it... it took them 5 years to work out the problem. Vallium was a friend of mine. Once I was referred to an ophthalmologist, like you, my pressure was high, in the 60’s in left eye and 45 in right. I was 27 when the headaches started and 32 when diagnosed. Laser surgery, which didn’t work, more laser, stretches, iridioplasty, iridotomies, my eyes are like a patchwork quilt,countless drops, fast forward 15 years and a clear lens extraction in March this year in my left eye left me with the complication of a macula odema. Fluid swelling on the retina. Can barely exercise now due to an immediate impact on my vision when my blood pressure increases. It seems to never rain but pour. Pressure is now between 14-18 either eye, and I’m taking 4 drops plus 2 anti inflammatory and one oral suspension. I know how it feels to be around the clock. The type of glaucoma I have - narrow angle, you can’t do an Ahmed valve op, or any of the new discoveries, they are all for open angle. I’m basically left with the option of a trabecularetomy operation if it gets worse.we know it’s not easy being a glaucoma patient, but hopefully we all have good experienced doctors. For me I have to take the view, at 47, that they have kept my vision to a level where I can see and drive still for the last 15 years, hopefully they can slow down the progression for the next 30-40 (I live in hope). Where are you based?

I'm sorry you're going through all that. I have narrow angle glaucoma. The eye drops are keeping the pressure good, BUT.... I am so upset, and scared. I had the laser iridotomy surgery a yr and half ago, I found it like torture, electric pain over and over. And it didn't help the narrow angle. Now she wants me to have it again, and if it doesn't work then cataract surgery, which I don't know if I could face, or if I'm even willing to have the cataract surgery. I pray the laser works this time.