topic Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ? in Wellness

Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:35:52 GMT

Saw my eye doc for my yearly check up 6 months ago, got a new script for glasses and he wanted me to follow up in 6 months instead of another yr so I saw him today and test showed elevated pressure in my left eye and diagnosed with glaucoma. His plan of treatment was either lazer sx or eye drops. I decided on the eye drops first to see if that will do it and avoid sx.

Anyone else have eye drops or lazer surgery and what worked for you ? If you started with eye drops did you end up having surgery after all ? Just curious as this is a first for me. He says I do have small cataracts but it's not a concern at this time.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

colleena — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:46:21 GMT

@Goodie2shoes I had very high pressures in both eyes maybe 15 years ago & long conversation w/my doctor about what to do, I decided on both lazer surgery & he also put windows in both eyes. This was uncomfortable for several days after but I think it has been worth it. as so far this has kept the pressures down.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

HisElk1 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:53:37 GMT

@Goodie2shoes , I had high pressures in both eyes for a long time, but went religiously for checkups.

About a year ago, I was told that my left eye has glaucoma; but not the right eye.

He put me on eye drops, first a drop of Latanoprost before going to bed. Had gone back 3 months later, and though the pressures went down very little, not enough for his liking. He then added I think it's Brimonodine in both eyes once a day plus the Latanaprost in the night time. I did not do well on the "B" drug, so he changed it to Timolol and I am doing well (knock on wood) with that.

He's happy with my pressures and I now go every 4 months to have them checked. Originally, my pressures were in the low 20's and now they are down to between 13 and 14.

As long as they continue working, I'm not going to opt for anything else as it isn't a big deal to do the one drop for me.

Hope this helps you.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

bargainsgirl — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 04:01:29 GMT

I have been using eyedrops for several years now and my eye dr. is happy with the pressure results. I will continue on this path unless something changes for the worse. So far so good.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 04:29:11 GMT

@HisElk1 wrote:

He's happy with my pressures and I now go every 4 months to have them checked. Originally, my pressures were in the low 20's and now they are down to between 13 and 14.

As long as they continue working, I'm not going to opt for anything else as it isn't a big deal to do the one drop for me.

Hope this helps you.

Thanks everyone, your info was very helpful ! The pressure in my left eye was 26, I think the rt eye was about 14 not exactly sure but the left eye was the concern. I hope the eye drops will be all that I need.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

ID2 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:41:59 GMT

Many years ago my eye doctor at the time saw that I was heading into glaucoma. She decided to lazer my eyes. I got zapped a hole in each of my eyes and that cured it! My eye pressure has been consistently good since! Why mess around with drops just get the lazer. Once and done.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Iwantcoffee — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 13:15:33 GMT

I was diagnosed with glaucoma 10 years ago. Currently I am using 3 different drops and I have had laser surgery on both eyes.. I have used several different drops over the years and had a procedure on left eye for glaucoma when I had cataract surgery. In better news my mom only needed one drop and kept her pressure low. We have a family history of glaucoma.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Mmsfoxxie — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 13:21:45 GMT

I learned I had glaucoma in 2010. It's hereditary from my mother's side of the family. I was prescribed latanoprost, one drop in each eye per night. My eye pressure has remained stable, fluctuating up or down one or two points. I've never heard of glaucoma being cured, just managed. My mother was legally blind (so was her sister) from having it and not going to an eye doctor. By the time I knew she could barely see, it was extreme. She took four different drops twice or three times a day. Laser did not help....too late. So far, my peripheral vision is fine. Visual field tests are great.

Now if I could have the same for my cataracts, I'd be fine, lol.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

IMW — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 14:57:33 GMT

Have glucoma for 2 years. Started with Latanoprost then added another drop----took several months for pressure to decrease but it did and is stable at 13, 14.

Most important use drops religiously and see md

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Effie54 — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 15:09:55 GMT

My eye pressures went up when I was in my late 50's. Eye disease is rampant in my family, so I went on the Latanaprost eye drops, plus walk 3 miles a day, and my pressure is good and low. For the most part, you can keep your pressure at bay if you are religious to the drops. They work very well, so don't be alarmed. Just keep going back for your visits to maintain a good eye pressure.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

CelticCrafter — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:41:33 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
Many years ago my eye doctor at the time saw that I was heading into glaucoma. She decided to lazer my eyes. I got zapped a hole in each of my eyes and that cured it! My eye pressure has been consistently good since! Why mess around with drops just get the lazer. Once and done.

I guess you missed the part where the OP stated they wanted to start with the drops first?

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Shelbelle — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:55:52 GMT

My parents both had glaucoma, and it was controlled for years with drops.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Mindy D — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 21:21:27 GMT

@Goodie2shoes @If you take medication for high blood pressure the glaucoma medications can interact, depending on the medications.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Goodie2shoes — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:11:31 GMT

@Mindy D wrote: if you take medication for high blood pressure the glaucoma medications can interact, depending on the medications.

Thanks, I no longer take BP meds. After going thru a 2nd knee replacement same knee back in 2020, I changed my diet, lost 40 lbs, off diabetes and BP medication. Op placed me on Latanoprost eye gtts starting tonight at bedtime for 1 month. I sure hope that takes care of the problem.

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

1Professor — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 17:42:07 GMT

@Goodie2shoes @Effie54 @colleana @HisElk1 @ID2 @Mmsfoxxie @IMW + all

I was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes a year ago.

My ophthamologist went through several of the new/commonly prescribed drops, none worked. Pressure was not reduced.

Finally ended up with a combination Dorzolamide/Timolol which was effective, but not as low as we wanted. I put drops in twice a day.

We added Rhopressa [after getting a consult with a doc who specializes in glaucoma], which was a fabulous difference. Once a day at night. It is a bit costly, so some eye docs might not even suggest it, if they know about it (my regular eye doc did not know about it so refrred me). So I am 3 times a day with drops.

Yes, we will be taking drops for the rest of our lives.

Yes, skipping drops hurts results, hurts our eyes.

I can't imagine how someone, who need care, gets their drops right.

I come from a family of optometrists. Regarding LASER SURGERY: PLEASE research it.

I opted out because the "window" created [stretching the drainage hole] does work (yet only adds about 20% reduction in pressure), so surgery MUST BE REPEATED many times.

It only lasts for 1 year for many, up to 5 years for others.

Always you would need it again.

As you all can tell from the responses, individuals vary considerably.

For others who do not have a glaucoma diagnosis, glaucoma is actually rare (as opposed to cataracts which we all get with age). LESS THAN 2% of the population.

Glaucoma is also associated with severe nearsightedness (that would be me).

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

1Professor — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 13:29:14 GMT

This is a timely thread started by @Goodie2shoes:

I just discovered that January is NATIONAL GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH.

Hence, lots of great articles on treatments and various forms of glaucoma that exist.

A leading cause of blindness, incurable but TREATABLE, it often goes unnoticed. The Mayo Clinic has a great article this morning on glaucoma, as do other medical cites.

For those who use Twitter, the #NationalGlaucomaAwarenessMonth will immediately take you to relevant recent articles and insights. (If you do not have glaucoma, someone you care about might.)

@Goodie2shoes @Effie54 @colleana @HisElk1 @ID2 @Mmsfoxxie @IMW + all

Re: Anyone dealing with glaucoma ?

Goodie2shoes — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 03:01:30 GMT

Update on my glaucoma treatment. So as noted in my original post of 12/29. I started latanoprost gtts to my left eye about a month ago for newly diagnosed glaucoma. My pressure was 26 L and 18 R eye. I saw the opthamologist yesterday 1/30 and my left eye pressure is down to 20. The doctor was very happy with the results but wants me to continue the gtts with follow up in april. I'm very glad that I went for the gtts instead of going right to laser sx. Hoping this will be all that's needed.