Glaucoma - have or know of anybody who has?

[Life is Good]

Hi TD. My dad has Glaucoma and, as BG said, it is just about frequent check-ups and monitoring so that they can start you on drops if necessary to manage it. You hear about it causing blindness etc. which it does in acute instances, but because it is largely symptom-free, it often goes undetected in people who don't get their eyes checked regularly. By the time they do start having symptoms it is just too late! Take care

[Turkish Delight]

thanks heaps.

I have made an appt for the 28th for a visual field assessment, but honestly can't wait that long. I'll be calling a few other optometrists to see if i can get in anywhere else earlier.
My friend reminded me that Reggie from BB had gone blind, so i googled to see what she had it was something else. SHe's young too and wondered if it was due to glaucoma. And it isn't. I told mum that if i did end up blind or anythind, i'd rather commit suicide than be a burden on anybody. I am soooooo emotional these days, esp with all the bushfire and all.
Honestly thanks heaps to both. I think they may have caught it early, if i have it. I keep shutting one eye and checking if my vision is ny different but don't really think so. I don't know, i am so paranoid about health issues.

[briggsy's girl]

don't fixate on the results of the visual field test - most small optometrists are not set up with ideal lighting and noise reduction - very easy to get distracted. it's definitely worth getting it done, but if they opto says you have some anomalies and wants to send you for full test (basic test has you just doing test, full test dialates your pupils with drops etc for the test), just go with it. i had bad results for first VFT - i had no idea what it was going in, and appeared to have massive blind spots which i couldn't tell myself. went to an opthamologist down in Melbourne, had eyes dialated and did the test again, all fine.

[Rivlas]

My mum, she's in her late 70s, has had it for years and it is controlled with drops. Go and have a check up at the Dr's as hers flares up when her blood pressure is up.

Does your optometrist mind you asking questions? if not find one who does, as nothing is worse than walking out and feeling like you were a bother rather than a patient. Whenever you think of a question write it down so you will remember to ask the next time you go.

All the best with the next round of tests.

[kelebek]

thanks heaps.

I told mum that if i did end up blind or anythind, i'd rather commit suicide than be a burden on anybody.

I know that you have only just found out about possibly having glaucoma so I think this is a perfectly normal response especially when there is so much unknown about your prognosis. I wanted to send you lot's of
I also just to share that I have what Reggie has and I am legally blind although to look at me you would never know if I didn't tell you. The best way I can explain it is that it is like the back of your head, you can't see behind you, you don't know what is behind you so you don't know it is missing. While Glaucoma is different it still involves losing that peripheral vision. I can still read a book, use a computer, I currently work at an office. If the worse was to occur there are lot's of devices and technology available which would mean you wouldn't be a burden on people. Information is power, check out the vision australia website there are lot's of information there.

GL with your next test and hth

[Frangipani]

Hi TD,

My Mum's got glaucoma, she was diagnoised with it a few years ago, she was just under 50. She is on drops to slow the process down, as it is incurable.

As mentioned it is hereditary, so I began having my pressure tested every 6 months too when she found out. Though my pressure is usually on the high average at the optomistrist (my field visions are all ok), I've spoken to Mum's eye specialist a couple of times and he said not to be too concerned with the results at the optomistrist as they always tend to be a little higher then the specialists results, but obviously just keep having them checked every 6 months, so they can just keep an eye on any major changes. If they catch the problem early they can slow it down alot by the eyedrops.

Hopefully for us it is just something we just need to keep checking and they have worked out a way to cure it by the time we may or may not get it.

HTH...Good luck

[Turkish Delight]

Thanks Ladies.

I've begun to stress a lit less now knowing a little more about it. As long as i dont lose the vision that i have now i guess i really dont mind.
I dont know if it is psychological or anything but the sides of my eyes hurt. I am really turning out to be a hypochondriac, wth my IBS and now my vision.

Thanks once again. i guess i'll have wait as to what the results tell me. I found an opto nearby who can do the test earlier, this Wednesday.

Thanks again. xxoo

[Rivlas]

All the best for Wed, great that you could get in earlier as that will relieve some of the stress. Don't for get to pick his brain for info to help you understand the condition better.
Also don't forget to mention that the sides of your eyes hurt, better to say something than not.