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Glaucoma - new to this, worried, need info/advice

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patrick51322
patrick51322

Hi,

I was diagnosed with glaucoma by the GP clinic just yesterday and given a refferal to a specialist in 3 weeks. I was actually diagnosed by accident. I had gone to check why my right eye suddenly had clear near vision and astigmatism at distance vision.

Both eyes were checked for pressure. As it turns out my left eye for which I didnt have any complaints had a pressure of 23. ( max should be 21 ). Frankly I feel nothing at all in my left eye, which has 6/6 vision.

 I haven't been given meds cause at GP level maybe they can't.

I'm kind of worried reading about this stuff. I have no symptoms at all in this eye. Should I quickly try to bring foward my appointment somehow.

Is 23 reading very serious?  Could it be a temporary thing? I've been under a lot of stress lately and my blood pressure on the day of this checkup was a little high. Usually its upper normal or less. Could that have cause a high eye pressure reading.

The last time I did a routine eye checkup was 10 years ago. Then pressure in both eyes were normal. ( I'm in my late 50s, I dont smoke, drink and am not obese )

Any advice and comments much appreciated.

 

0 likes, 20 replies

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  • Marina_Dee
    Marina_Dee patrick51322

    Posted

    I think you have been given a lot of very confusing info on here.   For a start,does anyone in your family have glaucoma as it often can run in families. Ask your relatives about their eye history....you may be surprised. You will most likely be asked this question when you see the consultant,so its good to have an informed answer.   You have been identified as possibly having glaucoma  You will probably be given eye drops to bring the pressure down and then be monitored regularly.   

     

  • mikeaust
    mikeaust patrick51322

    Posted

    i think at a pressure of 23 you may or may not have glaucoma, its only after a check of the optic nerve that a diagnoses of glaucoma is made. 23 is pretty low and if you did have glaucoma the progression would be so slow that a few weeks probably wouldnt matter, i would try get the appointment brought forward just to stop the worry! i was a nervous wreck for a couple of months during the inital diagnoses period. I think the dr will most likely put you on drops to lower the pressure.
    • patrick51322
      patrick51322 mikeaust

      Posted

      Hey mike

      Here the thing, I never heard of interocular pressure until an internet search and on the forum. The GP used the term glaucoma when talking to me and in his refferal letter. Thinking back, he probably was not versed with this subject. I mentioned that i had no symptoms and he seemed perplexed.

      It didn't help when he told me to get myself to an ER fast if I lost any vision before the specialist appointment. I guess he was trying to be cautious but at that point I really started to worry.

      He knew I was having a prolonged sinus blocksge and infection but didn't mention it could affect eye pressure. i found out from the internet it does. Well with more info I feel calmer and I'll wait for the consultant appointment. The sinuses would have cleared by then hopefully and a better reading would be effected.

       

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