Glaucoma

[MrsC]

Hi all

My Mum was diagnosed this week, bit of a shock to say the least! She is going blind, but regarding timescale we have no ideas. She is on drops for her eyes. Does anyone know if there is a timescale for this?

[Gwyndy]

My father had glaucoma in his later years. He did have the operation to relieve the pressure and was also on drops. Although his sight failed it was AMD, not glaucoma, which caused his sight loss. You may find the information about glaucoma on the RNIB web site useful - Understanding glaucoma

It is important that you and all blood relatives are checked regularly for the onset of glaucoma. As your mother has now been diagnosed with the condition your eye tests will be free of charge.

[MrsC]

My father had glaucoma in his later years. He did have the operation to relieve the pressure and was also on drops. Although his sight failed it was AMD, not glaucoma, which caused his sight loss. You may find the information about glaucoma on the RNIB web site useful - Understanding glaucoma

It is important that you and all blood relatives are checked regularly for the onset of glaucoma. As your mother has now been diagnosed with the condition your eye tests will be free of charge.

Thanks Gwyndy, no-one else in our family has suffered from it, will take a look now at that website

[NOG]

You must now make use of you free eye tests cos if the get it early they can treat it.

[Alison]

My nan had it years ago and had an op to relieve the pressure. She had bad eyes anyway and had worn glasses since she was a girl and although short sighted, she never went blind. As said above, you're now entitled to free eye tests and your kids can get them from when they're 40 - actually that reminds me, won't have to pay for my eye check ups in just over a year's time - you get certain advantages with age!

[sweetiepea]

Sorry about your mum MrsC.

Unfortunately it doesn't just afflict the elderly. My cousin has it and he's in his early forties. Diagnosed 2 years ago. Now completely blind in both eyes. Has had lots of ops, but has ongoing problems. No known history in the family. Most of the rest of us are short-sighted to some degree and have regular checkups.

[bluemoon]

My MIL was diagnosed 4 years ago and still has most of her sight, She was in her late 70s though. I wonder if it's one of those diseases that progress more slowly the older you get?

[janeyo]

My dad (65) was diagnosed last year. He is being monitered with some experimental programme through huntingdon hospital, but was told that the drops you get delay the blindness. I don't think it happens overnight and the drops can prevent it for years.

They will test you from 40 for it round here if there is a family history (dad is the first), but when I mentioned it to my optician who we have known for years he had a good look at mine anyway and I am only 34. He said they will make a note on my file too.

hth janeyo

[Alison]

They will test you from 40 for it round here if there is a family history (dad is the first), but when I mentioned it to my optician who we have known for years he had a good look at mine anyway and I am only 34. He said they will make a note on my file too.

Even as a teenager they used to do this blast of air thing into my eye to check the pressure due to my nan having had it, it's just apparently it's more likely after you're 40, hence them giving you free tests.

[MrsC]

Thanks for your replies guys. I don't wear glasses, never had the need, have perfect vision, my 2 sisters don't though! My Mum's worn glasses since her late 30's, her eyesight has gone rapidly downhill in the last 12 months, very worrying!

[NSB]

My grandad had it for over 40 years. It was only in later years that he experienced trouble with his field of vision it was extremely patchy. He used his eye drops as regular as clock work- thats one thing he needs to ensure. Eventually in his 80's he was registered partially sighted.

Make sure his family members have regular pressure checks. x