General Chat

Great news Jean, you must both be relieved.

Lizxxx

That's really good news, Jean. This has been a good thread and probably helped a few people and made others aware of glaucoma.

Jean....thats brilliant news:o))
On the whole l sleep well, but sometimes........grrrr

jude

Thats very good news. you can both relax again .
Shirley

Just caught up with this thread, Jean, and very good news that OH hasn't got glaucoma. Once my optician rushed me off to the Eye Hospital in a panic and after three hours and loads of tests, everything looked normal to them! (This was before I got the cataracts!) BC XX

My OH is back from the eye hospital, where he has been told that he hasnt any sign of glaucoma. In fact , his eye photos havent changed since 2002. So what the optician saw is a mystery. Thanks for your support.

Thanks, dont you ever sleep, Jude?

Hope all goes well today for your OH's appointment :o)

jude

My Dad has glaucoma, he's 81 and had it for years. Has eye drops which are kept in the fridge.
I read a patient information leaflet today, which said if you are the parent, brother sister, son or daughter of someone with glaucoma, and 40, or over you can get free eye tests.

I also have glaucoma. I had been using eyedrops once a day (at night) but the specialist felt the pressure was a bit high so prescribed combigan drops to use in the morning in addition to the ones at night. After using them for a while I found after a day of gardening that I developed severe conjunctivitis. I assumed it was something to do with the gardening and the doc treated me for that, first with antibiotic cream, then with antihistamine drops but the conjunctivitis didnt go away, in fact it seemed to be getting worse. After 2 and a half months, just 2 days before Christmas I went to the doc in tears. She sent me to the acute eye clinic at a city hospital. The specialist there eventually decided I was allergic to the combigan drops. He told me to stop using them, and prescribed a different sort to use in the mornings. The next day my eyes were virtually cured!. So be aware that some people can be allergic to combigan drops.

Huia.

Shirley, I already do a lot of on-line shopping because I cant walk far. Janey, I had my cataracts done 21yrs ago, and have had no side effects, but saying that, OH had his done about 2yrs ago.

Jean
OH visual fields hasn't changed much in the last 2 years ,.i think the damage was done before he was diagnosed even though the first diagnoses was slight glaucoma. The driving visual fields test isnt that bad as both eyes work together so any loss is compensated for, plus you automatically turn your head for vision so its just you may have to turn head a bit further.
Its a good job i drive though because they kept him waiting for the result as DVLA have a long time staff strike in the medical div. so cases piled up . We started the applications for the renewal licences in mid Jan .I had mine through 1st week in Feb, OH was mucked about with forms back & forward & then the eye test so in the meantime his licence ran out , what a nuisance cos i had to drive everywhere even had to take him to mass, come home & then go back to pick him up , he is a practising Catholic, Not ideal all that running around on a Sunday morning when there's other things to do and Lunch to cook . They finally issued his licence on the 27th march nearly three weeks late .what a relief for him to be independent again BUT at least it got me driving more consistently and we have agreed I MUST do my fair share now to keep my driving shoes up to scratch!! . i did say to him this is a taster of when neither of us can drive again no shopping trips etc ,i would have to do online shopping i think .

I have had glaucoma in my right eye since the disastrous cataract surgery 3 years ago -- it was caused by the steroids used after the surgery.

My mother has glaucoma in both eyes. When I asked her about it this past weekend (her 80th birthday), I learned that her glaucoma also first appeared after cataract surgery. I think this is more common than we laypeople realize.

I have suffered no damage to the optic nerve, although the glaucoma was not diagnosed until 2 years after the cataract surgery. (The optometrist I went to for new glasses did the quick test, and when she picked herself up off the floor at my reading, she referred me to a new opthalmologist.)

Eye drops once or twice a day, depending on which medication your doctor chooses. Regular monitoring of pressure and vision testing. No big deal in terms of effect on everyday life, if the problem is caught before any damage has occurred. I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about what it might mean in future ...

Shirley, this is my OH's situation, and I dont drive, so when he gives up life will have to change. A shame because everyone says he is a good driver.

my OH was diagnosed with this about 2+ years ago. the optician picked it up with slightly raised eye pressure. He was referred to the hospital and goes every six months for visual fields and eye tests . he uses drops once a day at bedtime and he must observe eye hygiene too by bathing his eyes 3 times a day because he has always had problems with blepharitis that flares up every so often.
The drops are keeping his eye pressure at a normal level but he has developed some visual field loss in the left eye. At 76 he has to renew his driving licence every 3 years and at the last renewal in march he had to have a visual fields test at the opticians , this is done using both eyes at once rather than the hospital one that does each eye separately . Apparently for driving the test takes into account that both eyes work together and one eye can compensate for the other. He passed and got his new licence, He says at 79 ,when its due again, he may not want to drive anymore so i can be the main driver !!

This was picked up on his regular sight check. He has been having very bad headaches, but as far as we are aware, no other symptoms.

I think,should you be diagnosed with Glaucoma,any children you have can get a FREE eye test as long as they are over 40

As everyone is saying if caught early these days it can be controlled

My oh was diagnosed with this two or three years ago - hoipefully it was recognised in time. He takes eyedrops regularly and has been for regular check-ups - and last time he was told he needn't come back for a year, which must mean it's well under control. It hasn't made any difference to his lifestyle - and obviously I was worried at first as we live out in the country and thought he would need escorting/being driven everywhere, which he would have hated - and I wouldn't have been that keen either!

It's in my o.h.'s family and he has suffered for a long time with night blindness but won't wear sunglasses in bright sunshine during the day. He is due another check up soon.

I do hope your o.h.'s eyes are ok and if it is glaucoma it's been caught early enough for treatment so he doesn't get worse.

Always something to worry about eh?

Take care
Lizxx

Hello Jean....l have emailed you!!


Knowing you he will be caught in time, how long has he had the symptoms ??
Keep us informed as to how things go.

Take care

jude :o)