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Because I've got an appointment at the glaucoma clinic and I've never been before. There is glaucoma in my family.
Before all the covid stuff I had a diabetic eye test done at specsavers and they spotted something and I then had an appointment at the opthalmology department at the hospital - I had my eyes lasered and was given some eye drops to use for so many weeks.
First of all Gill big hugs. The anticipation leading up to a glaucoma appointment is not nice but the appointments themselves are usually fine. I’ve had glaucoma for 22 years and the glaucoma laser that you’ve had plus had my cataracts removed to manage the glaucoma. The other really important part of my treatment is to have glaucoma eye drops every morning and every night. If they are prescribed to you it’s as important to have them as prescribed as you would basal insulin but obviously they don’t need to be injected 🙂 Also insist that they make sure that they monitor your glaucoma at the hospital regularly ie at least every six to twelve months. I’ve heard horrible tales of people with glaucoma not being monitored regularly enough. Please let us know how you get on with your appointment xx
Glaucoma runs in my family - when I knew him, my grandfather was totally blind but pictures of him as a younger man showed him wearing what I described as bottle bottom glasses. The point I'm trying to make is that nowadays there are treatments to manage glaucoma, which family members did not enjoy in the past. My optician picked up my glaucoma right in the early stages and I was referred to the eye clinic at the local hospital, where I was prescribed Latanoprost drops. The tests were very similar to those for diabetes and ordinary eyesight, so nothing to worry about. One year I had all 3 within a few months. Even during COVID lockdowns, I have been called for my annual glaucoma eye test. I must admit though I feel relief each time they tell my my eyes are still OK. 🙂
Glaucoma runs in my family - when I knew him, my grandfather was totally blind but pictures of him as a younger man showed him wearing what I described as bottle bottom glasses. The point I'm trying to make is that nowadays there are treatments to manage glaucoma, which family members did not enjoy in the past. My optician picked up my glaucoma right in the early stages and I was referred to the eye clinic at the local hospital, where I was prescribed Latanoprost drops. The tests were very similar to those for diabetes and ordinary eyesight, so nothing to worry about. One year I had all 3 within a few months. Even during COVID lockdowns, I have been called for my annual glaucoma eye test. I must admit though I feel relief each time they tell my my eyes are still OK. 🙂
Thank you so much @Felinia for your reassuring reply. It was my nana (Dad's mum) who had glaucoma but I can't remember if she went partially or fully blind and this is what I'm so frightened of - but like you say there are treatments as in eye drops nowadays
First of all Gill big hugs. The anticipation leading up to a glaucoma appointment is not nice but the appointments themselves are usually fine. I’ve had glaucoma for 22 years and the glaucoma laser that you’ve had plus had my cataracts removed to manage the glaucoma. The other really important part of my treatment is to have glaucoma eye drops every morning and every night. If they are prescribed to you it’s as important to have them as prescribed as you would basal insulin but obviously they don’t need to be injected 🙂 Also insist that they make sure that they monitor your glaucoma at the hospital regularly ie at least every six to twelve months. I’ve heard horrible tales of people with glaucoma not being monitored regularly enough. Please let us know how you get on with your appointment xx
Before all the covid stuff I had a diabetic eye test done at specsavers and they spotted something and I then had an appointment at the opthalmology department at the hospital - I had my eyes lasered and was given some eye drops to use for so many weeks.
Going back to post #1 specsavers told me not to bother with new glasses until I'd had all my treatment done. I can tell that I need some slightly stronger lenses because just recently things are slightly blurred in the distance.
You’ve no need to worry, @mum2westiesGill, they’ve got you covered. Glaucoma is only a worry when it’s not diagnosed or treated. As Amanda says, she’s had it for years. When you know that the commonest cause of blindness worldwide is cataracts, followed a long way back by glaucoma, you can see that it’s only countries with ineffective health systems that allow folk to become blind because they’ve had no treatment.
So you’ll really struggle become blind because you’ve got glaucoma, unless you stop treatment and relocate to South Sudan.
In the UK, glaucoma and cataracts are way down in the cause of blindness, the commonest is age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy again being way behind. It’s all to do with regular examinations for the treatable conditions.
You’ve no need to worry, @mum2westiesGill, they’ve got you covered. Glaucoma is only a worry when it’s not diagnosed or treated. As Amanda says, she’s had it for years. When you know that the commonest cause of blindness worldwide is cataracts, followed a long way back by glaucoma, you can see that it’s only countries with ineffective health systems that allow folk to become blind because they’ve had no treatment.
So you’ll really struggle become blind because you’ve got glaucoma, unless you stop treatment and relocate to South Sudan.
In the UK, glaucoma and cataracts are way down in the cause of blindness, the commonest is age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy again being way behind. It’s all to do with regular examinations for the treatable conditions.
Thank you for your reply - my appointment went well
It all started in 2020 when I wasn't around on the forum at the time......
Just to put everyone in the picture
- 3/1/20 I went to my gp surgery for my annual diabetic eye screening
- 19/2/20 I went to Specsavers for my diabetic sight test - they referred me to the eye department at the hospital because the optician noticed little specs of blood at the back of my eye. They said "it's nothing to be concerned about yet however they need to see me there to confirm what he suspects it is, they also need to double check because I'm at risk of getting acute glaucoma & I might potentially need laser eye treatment
- 12/3/20 I went to York hospital and sure enough I needed laser treatment and they also gave me a course of eye drops.
In between the 12/3/20 and now I should've gone back but I've been too frightened. Then a few weeks ago somehow decided to go ahead with the appointment but still frightened.
This brings me up to date
- 19/8/21 here's what happened - I had a test where I had to look into a machine thing and press a button every time I saw a white light. Then saw the optician where he put drops in my eyes and I had a sight test and umpteen other things done.
Next I saw someone else who did a scan and took photos of the eyes.
Then I saw the main Dr in charge of my Care who turned out to be the very nice optician I saw and.....
overall it looks like the laser treatment has worked - there's a tiny bit of an area on the red zone on the right eye - it's not a problem but ok - I will have a check up in 6 months and if everything is ok I won't need eye drops but if not ok then I will need eye drops.....the Dr is going to write to my gp and also Specsavers to let them know how it all went but at long last I will be able to go back to Specsavers for a normal eye test and get some new glasses which I can tell I'm in need of for some stronger lenses.
I'm so please for you @mum2westiesGill . My OH is in a long line of glaucoma sufferers, but thus far (at 74) unaffected. He is strict with himself in terms of sight tests and the additional bits and bobs the opticians now do.
I hope your current situation holds itself stable without any further intervention.
I'm so please for you @mum2westiesGill . My OH is in a long line of glaucoma sufferers, but thus far (at 74) unaffected. He is strict with himself in terms of sight tests and the additional bits and bobs the opticians now do.
I hope your current situation holds itself stable without any further intervention.
