Useful info

Tony,
If you want the best, Dr. Ritch is it! If I were losing my sight to
glaucoma, he'd be the one I'd go to. He's trained over 100 fellows and is
in the forefront of glaucoma research.
Did you take a look at his resume at http://www.nyee.edu/pdf/r_ritch.pdf, as
Dwight recommended?
Sherry

Specially thanks to Chad, Stan and Dwight for your referals. It seems
Dr. Rick is an oustanding specialist. If possible I would like to get
other options. The Glaucoma Research Foundation mention best
Institutions or hospitals, but they do not recommend any doctor
I live in Dallas Texas, I am able to travel to any place in the USA or
other countries. I have heard that England is pioneer in glaucoma
research. As I said before I have low tension glaucoma on both eyes and
I'm losing ground slowly but surely.
I appreciate your info. about Dr. Rich just I would like to have more
options. You have been very good to me and I apprecciate you from my
heart, Tony

Carolyn,
So sorry to hear that the surgery was so painful for you. It's a shame the
glauc doc wasn't able to deaden your eye better. I was given "conscious
sedation" - I was very relaxed but also very aware of what was going on -
along with injections to deaden the eye. Not sure if he used any topicals
but I know when I had the 5FU injection, they used a *lot* of topical pain
meds and my eye was completely deadened!
Even if you don't feel anything, the trab isn't fun to go through. The
recovery was the hardest part for me! It just took so darn long <g
Sherry

The trabeculectomy and cataract surgery are done. Oh, boy!! Right
now my eye is very red and scratchy. I will say that he corrected my
vision beautifully in that eye. Thanks everyone who sent me their
good wishes.
I don't mean to scare anyone else going through this, but for me it
was very painful. The cataract removal was a breeze, but the trab was
NOT PLEASANT AT ALL! I truly felt every stitch and shot. I doubt if
I'd go through it again on the other eye.
I apologized to my doctor for vocalizing my discomfort and we talked
about it. We both feel that because I have fibromyalgia, and my pain
receptors are very surface, I had a tougher time with the surgery.
Anyway, it's over and now on to recovery. You all have been a
blessing to me.
Carolyn

Does Inflamation of optic nerve can happen after glaucoma surgery?

Hi Angela
Thanks for your e-mail.
I have been seeing a retina specialist at Moorfields due to having retinopathy
of prematurity. In January of last year I started to develop neovascular
glaucoma (new blood vessels that grow onto the iris blocking the dranage area).
It progressed very rapidly and my eye pressure was uncontrollable with eye drops
and tablets. I had the dranage implant surgery done in April. I was offered
laser treatment as a more temporary method but was told that this would need to
be repeated regularly and that surgery would really be the best option. I also
became a participant in the trial of Avastin (injection into the eye) to regress
the new blood vessels. Apparently there is a drug already used for this but
they are looking for an alternative.
I experienced complications with the first tube implant which were unavoidable,
I was just unlucky. I had 3 further surgeries and then it was decided that the
best way forward be to remove that tube implant and use a different one. This
was done in December and fingers crossed all is ok with it. I still have to use
eye drops twice a day and have some discomfort from time to time. Generally
things have really settled down.
I've never had an iridotomy. I think that different glaucoma surgeries are
suited to different types of glaucomas. I'm sure someone else on this list may
have had this procedure.
Please do keep me posted on how things go for you as I'd be really interested to
hear.
With all best wishes
Becky

Hi Becky,

I also live just outside London! I moved out of London almost 3 years ago.

What kind of treatment have you recieved at moorfields? sorry if you have already mentioned this, but I'm a bit behind on reading posts.

I've never heard of neovascular glaucoma. Have you ever had an iridotomy?

At my last hospital appointment, the Dr mentioned something about my Iris being in the wrong position, this is why they want to perfom an iridoplasty.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has had an iridoplasty. I am wondering what would happen if this procedure was unsuccesful, what would the Dr do next?

Angela

Becky <rebecca@...

Hi Angela
I live just outside London so have heard of the Western Eye Hospital. I am currently attending Moorfields Eye Hospital.
I have neovascular glaucoma which is a narow angle glaucoma. I think pressure with eye pain can be very individual. When I first had this problem I'd been experiencing headaches and then one night the very poor vision I have in my right eye (no sight in left due to other eye problems) suddenly got worse. Went to Moorfields A&E and the pressure was 38 but I had no specific eye pain. However once it crept into the mid 40's there was pain.
I think both Moorfields and the Western offer private appointments, I think Moorfields have a part on their websites giving details of private consultants. I think the best way to find out their waiting times would be to telephone the relevant consultants secretary on the phone number given. I imagine the wait for different consultants in variable.
If I can be of any more help please don't hesitate to ask.
With all best wishes
Becky

You have tube shunt surgery in both eyes? What type of shunt? Did you
loose vision?

Hi,

Have any has tube shunt instead of Trabectome? Just that I don't think I hear anyone talk about tube shunt surgery here!

Thanks

Hi

I had the tube surgery done in April of last year and then again in December of last year. It is quite a long story but if I can be of any help at all please just ask any questions.

All best wishes

Becky

If it were just cataract surgery, in some cases you can see very well
right away--my mother is very nearsighted and was able to see very
well without her glasses for the first time since she was 12 years
old, just a couple of days after surgery. However, since you are also
having a trab recovery may be longer. I am not sure how a trab affects
vision if you are having a new lens implanted at the same time.
-Deah

Carolyn,
My glauc doc said about 3 months after the trab, but I found that my
refraction kept changing for quite some time afterwards...
Sherry

Hi Angela
I live just outside London so have heard of the Western Eye Hospital. I am
currently attending Moorfields Eye Hospital.
I have neovascular glaucoma which is a narow angle glaucoma. I think pressure
with eye pain can be very individual. When I first had this problem I'd been
experiencing headaches and then one night the very poor vision I have in my
right eye (no sight in left due to other eye problems) suddenly got worse. Went
to Moorfields A&E and the pressure was 38 but I had no specific eye pain.
However once it crept into the mid 40's there was pain.
I think both Moorfields and the Western offer private appointments, I think
Moorfields have a part on their websites giving details of private consultants.
I think the best way to find out their waiting times would be to telephone the
relevant consultants secretary on the phone number given. I imagine the wait
for different consultants in variable.
If I can be of any more help please don't hesitate to ask.
With all best wishes
Becky

The unknown is terrifying, but with your help I'm not quite the
nervous wreck I would have been. Thank you again for all the info you
provided.
I will let you know how things go and probably have a lot more
questions, assuming I can see the monitor well enough to write. Since
I'm also having cataract surgery tomorrow on that same eye, the one
with out glaucoma damage...yet...how long, usually, does it take
before I can get a new prescription for that eye? I'm very
nearsighted in both eyes and the Ophth says that because of my
astigmatism, he doesn't want to give me long-distance vision in that
eye; but he'll correct my nearsightedness about 50%. At least, that's
what I understood him to say.
Thanks again,
Carolyn

Two words: Dr. Ritch.

the best doctors
**************
Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home.
(http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)

Dear Angela,
My understanding is private appointments mean you will
be seen in a day or two at the most. This is what
friends who live in England right now and have had to
see a doc on a private basis tell me. Its usually same
day or next day. It would be worth it to get your
pressure read properly and at least start off at once
on the proper medication or whatever the recommended
treatment. Then revert to the National Health and let
them follow up.
Some things just cant wait even a month. High eye
pressure is a cant wait situation in my opinion. Pain
or no pain is not a reliable indicator of just how
high the pressure is. This is why glaucoma is called
the silent thief of sight. There are no significant
symptoms. Once the nerve is damaged nothing can
reverse the situation. But prompt consultation and
treatment is the key to prevention and saving your
sight. I know the costs of private treatment are no
joke, but then, if we dont spend on our eyes, what
will we ever spend on? Just my opinion. I hope you
will think it over and go straight away to a glaucoma
specialist. If you are paying you might as well see a
glaucoma specialist instead of a general
ophthalmologist. I was jogging along with a good
ophthalmologist who is an excellent person in his own
way, but when I saw a glaucoma specialist it was a
whole new world of exams, evaluation and treatment.
Best from David

Tony,

Since you are new to this group, you probably do not know about Dr. Robert Ritch. I can tell from seven years of personal experience that he is an absolutely superb glaucoma specialist and surgeon who treats thousands of grateful patients. He is world renowned, giving lectures to medical groups in many other countries, and who conducts or participates in major research projects. If you can possibly get to New York City then by all means make an appointment with Dr. Ritch. He is the chief glaucoma doctor at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

If you can not go to New York City, then email this group again and ask Dr. Ritch personally if he can recommend a glaucoma specialist in your area. Tell him the kind of glaucoma you have, and the country and city in which you live.

You can read more about him in his resume at http://www.nyee.edu/pdf/r_ritch.pdf

You can learn more about the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary at:

http://nyee.edu/the-glaucoma-center.html

And you can reach him at the email address and office phone numbers below.

Good luck to you.

Dwight

Robert Ritch, MD
Shelley and Steven Einhorn Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology
Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Chief, Glaucoma Service
Surgeon Director
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
310 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
Medical Director and
Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board
The Glaucoma Foundation
Director of Intelligence: Karen Cheifetz
Direct Tel: 212-673-5140
kcheifetz@...
Patient Appointments - Tel: 212-477-7540
Fax: 212-420-8743
e-mail: ritchmd@...
http://www.glaucoma.net
http://www.nyee.edu

From: tonych41

I'm new to the group, I have low tension glaucoma in both eyes, my VFT
get worst every six months, I have lost almost 50% of vision in my
right eye on which I had already trabeculotomy 3 years ago.
I can not gamble with my vision, I need to check with the best doctors
in the world. Definitely slowly but surely I am losing ground.
ANY information ABOUT THE BEST INSTITUTIONS OR DOCTORS will be GREATLY
appreciated. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Hi Jan, David and Becky, thanks for replying to my post.

Becky, I was attending the western eye hospital in Marylebone. Incidently, I recieved a letter from them this morning. They asked me to call to make an appointment. The earliest they can see me is April 24th. I don't have any pain in my left eye, despite the pressure being high. would a person with narrow angle glaucoma feel any pain if the pressure was very high? I would've thought so, but hey, what do I know.

Jan & David, how soon do you think I would be seen If I went private?

Have you, or anyone you know ever attended the western eye hospital?

thanks again, sorry about all the questions!

Angela

Hi Angela

I'm really sorry to hear that your in this situation. It really can be worrying and the uncertainty of when an appointment will be can add to all the existing worry.

I also live in the UK. May I ask which eye hospital you were attending or where you are likely to be refered back to?

With all best wishes

Becky

Hi Angela,
I think it would be advisable to be seen by a
specialist at once, even if it means going private.
Later, once the treatment is on track, you could
revert to the NHS. Just my opinion, but I think this
cant wait. Best wishes, David

Angela I think you should ring outpatients and check how far you are from being
seen, urgent here can mean a 6months wait,,,and somehow go and see specialist
privately for 2nd opinion and eye pressure on left eye.....Optomotrists will
check your pressure Jan

I recently went to have my annual eye test and my pressures were taken with the air puff test. Apprently, they couldn't get a reading for my left eye, because their machine only reads pressures up to 30. Is this correct?

I have no idea how high the pressure is in my left eye, which is very worrying to say the least! the optician wrote a letter to give to my GP for a referral to the eye hospital - marked urgent! (this is how the NHS works in the UK!)

I have had high eye pressures (not above 30 though!!) for many years. Although I have not been back to the eye hospital for a couple of years to have my pressures taken. About 3 years ago, they performed an iridotomy which didn't work. Some time later I was told my Iris is covering (or too close to) the drainage holes and I need an iridoplasty. I have put this off for too long (a couple of years), but just couldn't go through with this before now. For two reasons. The first being I didn't like/trust the DR I was seeing at the time and I was worried this procedure would fail too. Now I will have to wait and see what happens when I get my appointment. I just hope my pressures have not risen too much!

Sorry for the long post.

Angela

I

[INLINE]

Ive been told I have different glaucomas in each eye.....does seem strange tho....Jan

Hello
Well I went for my first vision test/optic nerve pics
today. The Tech had difficulty getting even decent
pics of my left optic nerve due to Sooooooo much
debris within the eye. I'm told there is nothing to
be done about it even though it interferes with my
clarity of vision and even getting fancy pics used in
diagnostics. The vision test were as expected--- poor
on my bad left eye. As these are establishing a
baseline, my specialist has no way to know how long my
eyes have been the way they are. Might have been long
before glaucoma showed itself. I see DR again in 3
months for repeat of vision test. if there is any
change at all, I guess it's down to surgery since good
optic nerve pics are out of the question. Dr. Ritch
is this typical--debris preventing good nerve pictures
and to use vision tests in a determination for surgery
verus nerve pics?
As well, how common is it for a person to have more
than one type of glaucoma? When I asked specifically
what type I had, my dr grinned and said I'm
complicated. So I said " basically I have indication
of more than one type?" and he said I did. How much
more difficult does this make my case, I wonder?
Oh, pressures holding steady from last time.
H

I am lost here & need help yes, we stay suspect until one or other eye doctor tell us his diagnosis & if it is glaucoma than the proces of nerve damage & loss of vision is irreversible,what then fight till you are blind & still have tot continue to take drops!!!!
--- On Mon, 17/3/08, Kanchan Charan <KCharan@...

From: Kanchan Charan <KCharan@...
Subject: [glaucoma] Starting treatment at 20 IOP

I have high myopia and had an IOP of 18 back in 1988 (age 30), no damage to the
optic
nerve. My doctor at the time took a wait and see attitude before starting drops.
A few
years later the IOP was around 22 and I changed health plans and was at Kaiser
Permanente in San Francisco. The doctor there chose to start me on drops
(Betopic)
because he said with their patient load, he could only monitor my pressure about
every 3
months, and he didn't want to take the chance I could start having nerve damage
before it
was detected.
Later in Boston, I was at the Harvard Health Plan and that doctor quoted a
patient study
that was showing that some patients have high IOP for years with damage. However
he
thought it was smart to stay on drops as a preventive. So you see, some doctors
like to
play it safe.
Finally at age 50 I had a trab in one eye because the IOP got really high and
drops no
longer worked on it. But 20 years is a long time. If you had regular checkups,
maybe you
could delay drops. But be sure to speak to a specialist and follow his/her
advice. And if a
drop really bothers you, speak up, it maybe possible to switch.
Patricia P

I used the one one the video where it shows how to pull the bottom eye lid out with one hand and position the other hand with the bottle in the other. It was hard before to coordinate and see enough to make a bottom pocket. This method allows my hand to rest on the other and its easier to hit the corrects spot. Before I thought I was doing well to just get them in my eyes. I think vision loss may exacerbate the learning to use of drops as Its hard to find the place where you can see, hold and drop all at the same time.
Dorothy Gerhardt <drgerhardt@...

Andrea-What new ways did you try that made a difference in your pupils? thanks

I have high myopia (-11 in both eyes). My IOP has been in the high
normals (highest it went to was 20). My opthomogist is putting me on
eye drops saying that I am at high risk due to the following:
1) High myopia
2) Thin conea
He took pictures of my optic nerve several months apart and said that
there was no change. He said that he can not draw any conclusion as to
whether or not the optic nerve looks suspicious as it is hard to tell
becasue of my high myopia.
After taking the drops, IOP has dropped to 12/13.
Is treatment premature in this case? Should the optic nerve be
monitored and treatment started only when change is noted? What are
the pros and cons of starting treatment now vs later when optic nerve
change is noted?

Last Decemebr, my sister (49 year old) had a trabeculectomy that
failed and immediately (January 2008) a tube shunt surgery. After
both suregeries she hasn't recover any vision (probably because
swelling of the macula). Now, they want to operate the other eye
(traberculectomy with express shunt). We are afraid of another
trabeculectomy, because of her age and previous failure in the other
eye. We are looking for a secure and less invasive surgery. We are in
Florida and we are willing to go anywere.

does anybody knows a hospital/doctor performing deep sclerectomy?

Floaters do that. They're not associated with glaucoma but I think with
glaucoma we tend to worry about anything strange going on in our eyes!
They come and they go and sometimes I "play" with them when I'm really bored
<rbg
Sherry

Sounds like a Weiss ring floater. When the vitreous detaches, it can
pull some tissue with it and that is called a Weiss ring. They are
large and may be horse-shoe shaped (mine is shaped more like a
seahorse). I was told it would drop out of the line of vision in time
but that was 3.5 years ago and I believe in fact it is there for life.
It is always there, but when it settles in my normal blind spot I
don't see it for a moment, and now of course that the glaucoma is
worse I don't see it when it passes through a damaged area.
-Deah

I have this strange floater that has taken up residence in my left eye
(the bad one) in the past 1-2 weeks. It is always way off to the left
but it startles me every time because it looks so much like "something"
darting across & disappearing to my left. At times I've thought it was
one of my cats or if I am outside, a bird! It's not there all the time.
The flashes of light & big spider-leg-like floaters are gone but this
guy is still around.
Pam

I was never told. I used to just drop them right on my pupil. They stopped working for awhile, just staying the same size no tmatter how much light came in. When I started the new ways the pupils started working again. I vary depending on things like how thoroughly I washed my hands.
Pat <beric4@...

I was reading everyones messages about eye drop insertion. I was told about punctual occlusion and have been doing that all along as well as keeping my eyes closed for about 3-4 minutes. A family member of mine also has glaucoma and he only puts the drops in and opens his eyes right away and he has not had problems with regards to his pressures by doing it this way so I really dont know what the right answer is. I was paying such attention to detail as to how to insert them and being exactly on time, etc. and he wasnt and his results were always the same, if not better than mine. Is it necessary to close your eyes for 3-4 minutes or would even 1-2 be enough? Ive even asked the drug companies that make the drops and they dont seem to know the answer which I find amazing. They tell me to ask my pharmacist as they dont know the answer. I would think the company making the drops would have the answers to these questions?? Does make me wonder.
Just curious what everyone else has been told as to how long to leave in, etc.?
Patricia

It may be time for a second opinion. Have you seen a glaucoma specialist? I have
read many times on this website about the need to see an Opthamologist who is
also a specialist in treating Glaucoma. Good Luck with the surgery.
Carolyn <czacks1@...
Stitches? The Ophth didn't say anything
about stitches. :{ My IOP has never been above 13 and I've been on
two eye meds three times a day. But since I'm having cataract surgery
too, he's going to do the Trabulectomy (thanks for that) at the same
time. This is the right eye, with just the beginnings of Glaucoma.
He'll probably do the left eye when the cataract is ready to be removed.
Does this make sense: I have extreme dry eyes; absolutely can't shed
a tear. Why would there be a need to make an opening to let fluid
out? It doesn't make sense, does it?
Thanks for any information you can add.
*****************

I was reading everyone's messages about eye drop insertion. I was told about punctual occlusion and have been doing that all along as well as keeping my eyes closed for about 3-4 minutes. A family member of mine also has glaucoma and he only puts the drops in and opens his eyes right away and he has not had problems with regards to his pressures by doing it this way so I really don't know what the right answer is. I was paying such attention to detail as to how to insert them and being exactly on time, etc. and he wasn't and his results were always the same, if not better than mine. Is it necessary to close your eyes for 3-4 minutes or would even 1-2 be enough? I've even asked the drug companies that make the drops and they don't seem to know the answer which I find amazing. They tell me to ask my pharmacist as they don't know the answer. I would think the company making the drops would have the answers to these questions?? Does make me wonder.

Just curious what everyone else has been told as to how long to leave in, etc.?

Patricia

I had that on Feb 7, it is called a Trabulectomy, it opens up a channel to allow fluid to drain and stops it building up in the eyeball which will cause IOP to elevate, and we dont want that because it can damage the optic nerve.

I had my stiches removed yesterday and pressure went down to 10 (I too have lost 50% vision in my left eye), there iss no pain having a trab just some discomfort when you have the anesthetic.

Sometimes pressure relieving drops such as Cosopt and Lumigan are not enough to get IOP down to the desired 14-16 range.

What happened with me was I had IOP of 53, drops got it down to 22 but trab surgery has allowed further relief.

The op itself is painless by the way.

I've been to four different glaucoma specialists and they all said the
same thing yours said, that it's the blinking that causes the drops to
enter the tear ducts and passive closure is sufficient rather than
punctal occlusion.
For a while I tried both punctal occlusion and passive closure, and
for me it never made any difference in eye pressure. It might make a
difference in side effects. I mainly do punctal occlusion now on the
theory that it can't hurt and might help.
I also administer drops in both eyes at once. I take three drops, two
of them twice a day and I would spend half my morning and evening
taking eyedrops if I put a drop in each eye at a time.
-Deah

Even if it would lower my IOP 7 points, which I bet in my case it
wouldn't, would I rather have an injection in my eye every six months
or take three eyedrops? I don't know. The main side effect seems to
have been pain related to the injection, even though they had a
topical anesthesia. It would be a little hard to work up the nerve to
have this done.
-Deah

Chris,
Some recommend just closing your eyes. Dr. Ritch recommends punctual
occlusion. I think it's better.... have you noticed any weird tastes in
the back of your throat after putting your drops in? That's probably from
the meds running down the tear ducts <g
I always did both drops at once and then pinched both ducts. My pressures
were ok so I guess it wasn't a problem for me.
Sherry

hi everyone:
i just watched dr ritch's video and realized
i haven't been doing everything EXACTLY
per the video ... so i'd like folks
to comment:
1) punctal occlusion (PO): my glaucoma specialist
told me i don't have to do PO if i'd rather
close my eyes and keep them closed ...
she told me it was the mechanics of blinking
that caused drops/tears to enter the tear duct,
so if i just keep my eyes closed and don't
blink, i'm getting the same benefit as PO
2) i put some drops in both eyes at the same
time ... i DON'T do one eye, and then PO,
and then the other eye and then PO ... i put one
drop in both eyes at the same time and close
my eyes ... is there a problem with this ??
3) when i do do PO, i realize i've been
pressing on the bone of my nose more than
inside where the tear duct is ... but i do it
on BOTH tear ducts vs the video where
it says do it 1 at a time ...
would appreciate folks comments/reaction
to this ...
tks, chris

Thanks for posting this article. First promising thing I have seen in a long while. Hopefully it will be approved for use.

Lilian

After my first trab I wore the shield for a couple of weeks. After the trab
on my other eye, I wore it for maybe closer to 6 weeks because of the
hypotony. I think he suggested I wear it longer than the first eye.
Plus I sleep with my fist in my eye! It's been a struggle to retrain my
fist to stay out of my eye during the night <rbg
When I was working in a nursing home, we had an elderly patient come in who
had just had a trab. She was blind in the other eye. The nurses didn't know
a darn thing about eye stuff and had her wear the shield all the time, even
during the day - apparently the house doc misunderstood the post-op orders
and the nurses didn't know any better to question it and when I saw it I
suggested that they check with the ophthalmologist about that because it was
supposed to be only at night. Poor old dear, not being able to see a
*thing*! She was happy to have it removed during the day.
Sherry

Well it would help if I attached the link to the article...Sorry!
http://www.eyeworld.org/printarticle.php?id=4148

Kellie my daughter had her irrodotomy on Friday and everything has gone fine, she will have her second one in another month all going well.

I saw my specialist today, he told me the results of my field vision test were inconclusive and has to be re done?! He is also wanting to take a picture next time of the nerve in my good eye, my pressures were 24 in eye with the two Moltenos and 18 in good eye......when I said I felt that they were a little high he said " no not really, see you again for check in 4 months".....4months can be more like 6-9mths with our health system!

In alot of ways I am very pleased I am not on Meds, but just know of lots of you here who would maybe consider that high? especially seeing I have only one eye left?

I told him I felt a lot clumpsier than I used to be, dropping things banging into things. etc. he did not seem concerned? I said to him I hope my eyesight hasn,t deteriorated [ 6 mths since last visit] he didn,t answer!! I take no answers as a good thing as thats about all I get.lol........Jan

Hello everyone,
It's been a month since I've had my trab (things are going well) but I'm still
wearing my
plastic eye shield at night. I think it's become a security blanket. My doctor
said don't
bother, but I'm a restless sleeper and roll around a lot and I also sleep on my
side and
scrunch up in a ball. I just feel better with it and I worry about putting
pressure on my eye/
new bleb. How long did you wear your eye shield and what were your doctors
recommendations on this?
thanks
Patricia P

Hi. I haven't contributed much or often, but I really appreciate all
the support and knowledge that comes from your group.
I'm having two procedures on my right eye on the 20th, and even though
I have a lot of confidence in my Ophth., I need some help in
understanding what's going to happen. The first one is pretty
straight forward, cataract surgery, but the other one (and I'm not
sure what it's called) has me concerned. He's going to make a
channel(?) behind the eye so that fluid can drain out and not build up
pressure (?). I'll be seeing him (Dr. Partamian) tomorrow afternoon,
and I'd like to be able to ask some intelligent questions and
understand the answers.
BTW, my left eye has 50% vision loss, and the right eye seems to just
be starting something (cupping?). My ignorance is astounding when it
comes to this subject, so please give me some feedback, so I can ask
intelligent questions a understand his answers.
Thanks so much,
Carolyn

No one is happy taking glaucoma eye drops or having glaucoma, and all
drugs have the potential for side effects. If timolol worked for me, I
would have been glad to keep taking it no matter what the possible
side effects. I am now on Lumigan, Trusopt and Alphagan and side
effects are the least of my concerns.
The chance of side effects is small, and if you do have serious side
effects, your doctor will switch you to a different glaucoma drop. Be
aware that even though there are several different classes of glaucoma
eyedrops, you can soon run out of options, however.
I agree with Sherry, don't read the side effects unless something is
seriously bothering you and you want to find out if it could be from
the drug you are taking. When prescribed a new drug I usually ask the
doctor if there are any side effects I should look out for, and the
doctor will say whether he or she has seen anything in particular and
whether it should concern me.
-Deah

I've learned not to read the side effects of drugs <g
for aspirin or acetaminophen! Those are scary too!
The beta blocker drops can be dangerous for people who have asthma or are
already on beta blockers for hypertension.
Sherry

I have just been reading the side effects of Timolol & they are very scary.
Bradycardia, arrhythmia, hypotension, hypertension, syncope, heart
block, cerebral vascular accident, cerebral ischemia, cardiac failure,
worsening of angina pectoris, palpitation, cardiac arrest, pulmonary
edema, dizziness, edema, claudication, Raynaud's phenomenon, and cold
hands and feet.
This is not something I am happy taking at ALL!
Pam

hi all

i was reading in a drug book at work and it said that when you drop in the timolol you should rotate your eyes around (with your eyes closed).

so now i do that as well as punctal occlusion!

hope that helps

joanne

Would it be feasible to store Timolol in the refrigerator simply so that
I can feel it when I get the drop in my eye (unlike Xalantan which
cooperates so nicely!). Or would the refrigeration make the drop ooze
out of the bottle ever slower?
Pam

Www.glaucoma.net
If it doesn't show up, email me an address and I'll email you a CD of it
On 3/11/08 11:32 AM, "Pam Norman" <pam_norman@...

I would like to see Dr Ritch's video on the proper way to instill eye
drops for maximum effect. Can someone tell me where to find it, please?
Pam

Robert Ritch, MD
Shelley and Steven Einhorn Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology
Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Chief, Glaucoma Service
Surgeon Director
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
310 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
Medical Director and
Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board
The Glaucoma Foundation
Director of Intelligence: Karen Cheifetz
Direct Tel: 212-673-5140
kcheifetz@...
Patient Appointments - Tel: 212-477-7540
Fax: 212-420-8743
e-mail: ritchmd@...
http://www.glaucoma.net
http://www.nyee.edu

http://www.nyee.edu/video.html
Scroll down to "Eye Videos" and click on "How to Put Drops in Your
Eyes: the Ritch-Sussman Technique".
-Deah

I would like to see Dr Ritch's video on the proper way to instill eye
drops for maximum effect. Can someone tell me where to find it, please?
Pam

Sure, There is a video made by Dr. Ritch thjat shows how to place drops in the eyes and how to maximixe the effect of them. I watched the video from info on this support group but cant tell you for sure how to access it. Maybe the moderators or even Dr. Ritch knows how you can watch this. I found it very helpful and stopped washing my face with eye drops each time.

Andrea
Pam Norman <pam_norman@...

I just started using Timolol & am finding it very difficult. The drops
are tiny & they seem rather viscous so it's hard to tell when I've got
one actually into my eye.
Any suggestions?
Pam

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have not lost total vision in either eye but I do have considerable loss in the one so maybe that is why I have lost the binocular vision, I don't know?? I will ask my glaucoma specialist when I see her later this month.

Thanks Sherry for the info. I will look that up.

Have a good week everyone!

Patricia

The monovision concept in contact lenses--fitting one eye for near
vision and the other for distance--is pretty common. It bothers some
people but for others it is a good solution so that they don't need
reading glasses on top of contact lenses. I have one contact lens
slightly weaker in prescription than the other eye, and it works fine
for me--I can read close up without needing reading glasses. Have
never had any problems with depth perception, but in my case the
difference between the two lenses is only a half a diopter.
My husband had a hemangioma in one eye, under the retina which
distorted vision in that eye--everything looks somewhat smaller. One
of the first things he noticed was a problem with depth perception,
although eventually he adapted. I guess in many of these cases the
brain in time accommodates.
-Deah

Patricia,
Maybe Dr. Ritch can give more input on any relationship between binocular
vision and glaucoma, but I really didn't find very much!
Binocular vision is when both eyes are used together. With binocular vision
impairment, you lose depth perception and the ability to judge distances.
There's an article on this at
http://www.children-special-needs.org/questions.html.
If one eye is not functioning as well as the other, you could lose your
binocular vision. For example, many years ago my optometrist fitted me for
contacts and at that time there weren't "bifocals" in contacts. So he made
one quite a bit stronger than the other so I could read with them as well as
see distances. I'm not sure how sound his theory was... but anyway I had no
depth perception. I was standing on a sea cliff and had I not *known* I was
standing on a sea cliff several hundred feet high, I could have easily
stepped off thinking it was no higher than a curb! Made it tough to drive
<g
I did find an article on Pub Med where binocular vision was studied in a
group of patients with congenital glaucoma but other than that, the article
didn't say much http://tinyurl.com/36f6vq
Sherry
-----original message-----

www.willsglaucoma.org let me know what you think.

My favorite! The doc chats are awesome!
Sherry

I was just wondering if anyone with glaucoma has been told they don't have any binocular vision anymore. I still don't know exactly what this means (perhaps Dr. Rtich can help answer that) but when I went to the optometrist awhile ago, he kept asking me to look at a certain spot and tell him what I see and I kept saying that I didn't see anything. He tried it many different times and each time, I couldn't see it. He said it was the test for my binocular vision so apparently I don't have that any more. How does that relate to glaucoma vision loss? Thanks!

Patricia

Would another disorder like MS cause optic nerve damage and lead to a glaucoma diagnosis?

Hi
I have heard that MS can cause eye sight problems but I'm not sure what they
are. I'm sorry not to be able to be of more help but I would be interested to
hear more info from others.
With best wishes
Becky

Hi

it's the latest version of the frequency doubling field analysers.

While some studies have sudjested it is good for detecting early defects,

I think the main Humphrey Sita tests remain the 'gold standard'.

here's a good paper on the subject

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3921/is_200312/ai_n9310141

Steve

Does anybody know how the matrix visual field test differs from the
standard one? I am getting a matrix test next week and was just
wondering. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've never heard of problems. The reason they cover your "vitals" with the
lead blanket is because radiation could cause sterility.
Sherry

I was at the dentist the other day for a routine cleaning/check up. At
one point they took the annual X-ray of my choppers. The X-ray thing
was pointed pretty close to my head and eyes. They always cover my
body with that heavy blanket to protect the vital organs. That made me
think - could the X-ray have an effect on my eyes/glaucoma? Any
thoughts/research on this?

just wondering why some glaucoma speialist want to dilate your eyes before the
visual
field test. Thanks Bren

Dr. Ritch,
We have just received a Presidential Greetings letter from President
George W. Bush regarding tomorrow's World Glaucoma Day. The letter has
been signed by the President and is marked with the Presidential Seal.
We have attached a scanned version of this document, which just arrived
by Fed Ex. In addition, the Acting Director of White House Presidential
Correspondence has also included an accompanying letter setting
guidelines for the use of President Bush's greeting.
Best regards,
Brian
Brian Downey
Vice President
R.C. Auletta and Company
59 East 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 355-0400
Fax: (212) 355-0835
Email: bdowney@...
------ End of Forwarded Message

------ Forwarded Message
From: James Jorkasky <jamesj@...
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 10:51:27 -0500
To: James Jorkasky <jamesj@...
Conversation: NAEVR Posts World Glaucoma Day site; Releases Summary of Feb 26 OCT Briefing
Subject: NAEVR Posts World Glaucoma Day site; Releases Summary of Feb 26 OCT Briefing
NAEVR and AEVR Contacts:
Today, NAEVR has gone live with its Web site section dedicated to the first-ever World Glaucoma Day this Thursday, March 6, at the following link:
http://www.eyeresearch.org/naevr_action/world_glaucoma_day.html <http://www.eyeresearch.org/naevr_action/world_glaucoma_day.html
In the press section on this page, NAEVR also announces its plans to spend the entire day on Capitol Hill educating and advocating with the American Glaucoma Society (AGS), which is holding its Advocacy Day and an accompanying briefing and screening, featuring real-time optic nerve and pressure evaluation of the eye.
This event follows by one week the February 26 AEVR Briefing on Visual Imaging, featuring real-time Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This standing-room only event, which drew attendance by Members of Congress and their staffs and emphasized the emergence of this technology from collaborative NIH research, is summarized at the link below:
http://www.eyeresearch.org/naevr_action/oct_briefing.html <http://www.eyeresearch.org/naevr_action/oct_briefing.html

All of this information has been shared with NIH Building 1 as it prepares Dr Zerhouni for his testimony tomorrow at the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing entitled Health Issues and Opportunities. Unlike past years, Dr. Zerhouni will be joined by other Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) agency heads, such as Dr. Julie Gerberding (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC), Dr. Carolyn Clancy (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, AHRQ), and Dr. Terry Cline (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) in a discussion of the cost effectiveness of research. NAEVR will provide a comprehensive summary of the hearing.
Jim
James F. Jorkasky, Executive Director
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research/
Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 250
Rockville, Maryland 20852-1606
Direct: 240-221-2905; Cell: 703-909-6975; Fax: 240-221-0370
email: jamesj@...
Visit the NAEVR Contact Congress Booth at ARVO 2008!
------ End of Forwarded Message

------ Forwarded Message
From: Ivan Goldberg <eyegoldberg@...
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 16:23:37 +1100
To: Glaucoma-net <glaucoma-net@...
Subject: [Glaucoma-net-L] Fw: ONE WEEK LEFT TO World Glaucoma Day
Dear colleagues

The World Glaucoma Day is gaining momentum and visibility worldwide: The Google hits, a few hundreds two months ago have now exceeded 6000. Official Proclamations have been issued by several governments or local authorities, including the Mayor of New York, as you can read in the attached newsletter. More than 800 WGD events have been registered globally and can be seen on the Day's website, www.wgday.net <http://www.wgday.net/

We do know, however, that many other planned or ongoing activities have not been announced to the organizers. As the very purpose of the Day is to show the global mobilization to raise glaucoma awareness, you would significantly contribute to the effort by recording on the website any events you may be organizing or participating to, if these do not show on the map. Doing this online will only take a few minutes of your time and it can contribute significantly to maximize the impact of the Day. The online form is on the www.wgday.net <http://www.wgday.net/

Thank you for your contribution to this global effort
Ivan Goldberg
on behalf of Robert Ritch, George Lambrou and the World Glaucoma Patient Association
==========================================
Ivan Goldberg
Clinical Associate Professor, U Sydney
Director, Eye Associates
Glaucoma Services, Sydney Eye Hospital
Floor 4, 187 Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW Australia 2000
Tel: +61-2-92311833
Fax: +61-2-93375557
Email: eyegoldberg@...
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)
==========================================

I think they'd have to indicate if there was a steroid-like substance in any
creme. But I am
also cautious of products with herbal ingredients. People assume that there is
no allergic
reaction because it is natural, but you can be allergic to herbs just as you can
artificial
ingredients or preservatives. While I'm recovering from my trab I'm not wearing
any eye
makeup or eye creme. It's a pleasure not to be fussing with my eyes and people
say they
don't notice any big difference in my appearance. I guess that's thanks to a
few years of
using Xalatan -- black eye lashes!
Patricia P

Steriod cremes can be necessary for some serious skin deseases like eckzema or psoriasis)Spelling off for sure. If used as a skin cream, it can as you said make the skin thinner but also loses its effecticeness. I would suggest anyone not take the risk for cosmetic purposes or if any other methods are available. I do take Medrol when I have bad flairs of arthritis so I can walk. It is like a miracle drug. Then I have to taper off. Cosmetic reasons ,to me, dont make sense.

My situation sounds similar. Pressures were around 28 in each eye and
cupping of 7.5 in the worst eye. Have been on Travatan Z and Timoptic
(which is similar to the Xalatan and Betamol} and the pressures have
been holding at around 18. I can honestly say I really have not
worried about losing vision at all. Don't miss your eye drops and
make sure you visit your doctor regulary and then forget about it.

The manufacturer advises storing Xalatan in a refrigerator until the
bottle is opened, but once opened you can keep it at room temperature.
-Deah

Dear Sara,
Initial denial is indeed fairly common I should think.
From my own experience I simply refused to believe
that my pressure was higher than normal when I went
for a routine eye check to change my spectacles. I had
to go for second and third opinions and get the
pressure read to finally believe that yes indeed my
eye pressure was creeping up and treatment had to be
started at once, and it was probably for life. It does
take a lot of adjustment. My first thought was oh my
God I am going blind and what on earth am I going to
do. Reading and educating myself about glaucoma,
joining this group, and strictly following doctors
orders has helped me get over the initial shock.
I think just about all of us go through this
experience when we first find out. For me it was a
greater shock perhaps because just nobody in my family
tree has ever had glaucoma including my 86 year old
Mom whose pressures are normal to this day. Almost all
my living family members ran to check their eye
pressure when I told them and all have come out
normal. Glaucoma has a strong genetic aspect but so
far, in my case, that doesnt seem to be so.
Finally we come to acceptance and adjustment. Its been
a year since I was first diagnosed and I think I have
made more doc visits in the last year than I have in
the last twenty years. Visits for checking pressure,
trying out drops that didnt give me an allergy, tests
for visual field and retinography and the like. It is
hard to rearrange our lives to include all this but
eventually we all get around to it and just do it.
Take heart. Treatment means everything. I am in a
similar situation. Initially when first diagnosed had
a pressure of 26 and 24. No visual field defects and
optic nerve cupping is 7 in the worse eye. Started off
on one prescription (Timolol) which dropped the
pressure to 20 and 18 and after three months pressure
started creeping once more.So doc added Lumigan drops
as well. Right now I am using Ganfort (lumigan and
timolol mix) which is once a day, one drop in the
morning.
I've come a long way from the initial shock. Have just
got on with my life. Do the drops never forgetting
even a day, keep up with the doc visits, and otherwise
just forget about it. I am sure you will also get to
this point soon. Wishing you all the best. David
Miller

Hi,

Just read the message about strange light streaks. I have had those also but don't think it's related to the glaucoma (in my case anyways but I may be wrong). I will sometimes get those before a migraine so wondered if that was a possibility in your case.

Patricia

Tonight I've been noticing strange light streaks in my left eye. We had
a thunderstorm early & when I went into a dark room, initially I thought
it was a lightning streak but it wasn't. They ARE like little flashes
of lightning in the upper part of my eye.
Does this resonate with anyone?
Pam

Call your ophthalmologist!
Sherry

Recommended but not required if room temps are reasonable. I only
refrigerated mine during the hottest part of summer and if we travelled, I
kept it in a wide-mouth thermos with ice (put the Xalatan in a zipper
baggie). My pharmacist told me not to carry it in my pocket so it wouldn't
pick up on the body heat but to carry it in my bag.
S.

Do you have to refrigerate Xalatan?

Hey, it's me, Sarah, the freak-out lady, fairly-recently diagnosed,
high pressure have been 28, no visual defects, one nerve a little
fuzzy but doc says it's probably from my extreme myopia because it
was like that when I initially saw him a year and a half ago and he
said it was too early for damage since having normal pressures, last
pressures 16 and 18 with Xalatan and Betamol, going this week to see
if eye pressures hold steady in afternoon. I am trying to adopt this
attitude...I have this eye condition which is going to have to be
monitored for the rest of my life, more likely than not eventual
surgeries since my pressures have already been up to 28 and I am now
on 2 meds, knowing from what I read that most people with glaucoma
caught eary do not lose vision if they stay on top of it, but that
does not mean I cannot go on with my life as usual and make plans for
the future. It does not mean I will never be able to do the traveling
I've always wanted to do or paint my house or put in a hardwood floor
or finish out my career. Most likely it will mean some inconveniences
of doctor appts, drops, possibly surgery recovery time, but my life
is not over as I have feared. This has been something I have not
stopped thinking about since diagnosed, but I am not enjoying the
life I have for the worry. I have been reading your posts every day,
and lots of articles. It sounds as if, while there is a slight chance
I could eventually lose my vision, it is not likely, and it is a
waste to sit here worrying about something that may never happen. I
will keep every appointment and take every drop, and forget about it
between those times as much as I can. Would I be living in denial to
do that or is that a reasonable attitude to take?

I had wondered the same thing since my glaucoma is the steroid induced kind. I have been using

this AVON eye lid cream for a couple of years to decrease puffiness. I will have to check

the carton. Surely it would have to disclose if there was any type of steroid in it, wouldn't they

or other harmful product?

emc

Dear EMC,
About what is normal pressure in general 20 is on the
high side of normal and 24 is the upper limit. Thats
my understanding of the general standard from what my
doc told me. However he also said that pressure, high
or normal, is not the absolute standard to indicate
glaucoma. There can be people with pressures at 14 or
15 who have glaucoma, and those with 26 who dont have
it. The visual field test and assessment of the optic
nerve is what tips the balance.
I dont know if pregnancy increases eye pressure
temporarily. My niece who used to wear contact lens
found that pregnancy temporarily altered the shape of
her cornea and the contacts were uncomfortable. Her
eye pressure continued normal.
A friend at the office was travelling in South America
and had some eye irritation. He was given Maxitrol eye
drops over the counter by a local pharmacy. No
prescription required. He used that for a week but
didnt get better. Then when he returned home he saw
his own ophthalmologist who found his pressure had
shot up from the normal 14 to 18 as Maxitrol contains
steroids. Now he has to wait a month and return for
one more pressure measurement to see if its back to
normal or not. His eye problem was viral
conjunctivitis and Maxitrol anyway was not the right
drops for it.
We, of the glaucoma group, have to constantly be
vigilant about not getting steroids indirectly through
skin creams, sinus sprays and the like. Nothing that
can indirectly raise the pressure. Hope the info. is
of some help. Best wishes, David Miller

Nowadays you see a lot of eye cremes that contain 'rejuvenating' ingredients
like retinol,
etc. that are supposed to stimulate the skin around the eye and make it
'younger', tighter,
more smooth, etc. Add your favorite marketing hype! I wonder if these products
could
impact overall eye health or contribute, even indirectly, to IOP? I recently
bought an eye
creme that featured herbal ingredients to reduce dark circles and eye puffiness.
It really
did smooth fine wrinkles in my eye area and seemed refreshing. But now I wonder
about
it? Any others who have wondered about the active ingedients in eye creme?
Patricia P

Dear All,

I have had normal pressures my whole life since early childhood. I remember hearing the optometrist
say 14, 15s most every year on my annual for vision correction. About a year ago, it was the highest
he had every say which was 18s but he said was normal. Of course, this was before I went in and
they were 70 and 65 this December and I was sent straight to Ophthal. and discovered early Feb.
is was steroid induced. I am off all types of steroids since Feb. 5th and on Alphagan P bid, Cosopt bid
and Xalatan at bedtime. Ten days ago my pressures were 14 and Thursday they were 14, hoorah!.
Told if in 6weeks, we might start eliminating a drop to see if I will hold steady. Are there any suggestions
from you members or Drs.? I thought the specialist told me that my drainage system was destroyed
forever and would be on all the drops forever. My reg. Ophthal seemed like after an undetermined
time of ridding my system of all steroids, that I may be able to get off all drops at some point. I don't
know if the specialist changed his mind in the report he sent my Dr. of if I misunderstood something.
Would love any comments. I would certainly love the fact that maybe I can get off and maybe my
drainage system is NOT down and out. ( I do have field of view loss and nerve damage in both eyes)

Another question, what is "normal" IOP? I know I have always been normal and know I was real
abnormal but don't know the fine line to move into the abnormal.
My daughter is 28 and is 3months pregnant and went for eye exam since it scared her about me
and just for preventative pregnancy measures. She does not need vision correction like me. Her pressures
were 21 in both. I never had any pressure that high in my life before this and thought that was
high. Is this normal, does pregnancy raise your IOP any? She has used Sinus steroid spray for a few
years that was one of my culprits. Any advise??

thanks,
emc

Are you using nasolacrimal occlusion?
What are your corneal thicknesses?
Are your visual fields normal?
If your angles are narrow after iridotomy, then there's a good chance you have plateau iris and may need iridoplasty and that may be why your pressure is fluctuating. This is my#1 guess without seeing you.
I do not do trabs on people with normal VF and optic nerves except under the most unusual of circumstances, like a pressure of 40.
On 2/29/08 8:27 AM, "H Cayus" <hjcayus@...

Dr Ritch

Since Sept 2007 I have been on more than a few type of eye drops in attempts to stablize my left eye pressure. With each change the pressure may behave itself for a few weeks than begin climbing again. I currently am on Pilopine ointment once a day, Xalacom once a day and Diamox once a day. Since mid Dec the pressures have been 21 or below. On Monday past the pressure was sitting at 24-so its begining to flux again. I have already had iris holes lazered and SLT which apparently hasn't done much since it normally doesn't help younger people ( I am in my 30s). My angles are open but very narrow. I also have a small cataract on the glaucoma eye.

According to my eye surgeon, there is no optic nerve damage as of yet, but he has just scheduled me for baseline pics of my optic nerve and perifery vision tests. He says he may base his decision to do Trab surgery on the results. I didn't know enough, months ago, to request the baseline tests.

When under treatment pressures shouldn't flux should they? Are trabs done on folks who have no nerve damage? And is the side vision test 100% accurate?

Thanks for any info.

I say get a specialist. You're young and it's your vision!

Dr. Ritch,

Is a product of 500mg Turmeric Extract "standardized 95% ....to curcuminoids" still same as curcumin? The product name in several respected companies is "Turmeric."

Grateful Lilian

curcumin
On 2/24/08 11:00 PM, "Dwight Ragle" <dmragle@cox.net

Dr. Ritch, do you take 1200 mg of turmeric or curcumin?

[INLINE]

Dr Ritch

Since Sept 2007 I have been on more than a few type of eye drops in attempts to stablize my left eye pressure. With each change the pressure may behave itself for a few weeks than begin climbing again. I currently am on Pilopine ointment once a day, Xalacom once a day and Diamox once a day. Since mid Dec the pressures have been 21 or below. On Monday past the pressure was sitting at 24-so its begining to flux again. [INLINE] I have already had iris holes lazered and SLT which apparently hasn't done much since it normally doesn't help younger people ( I am in my 30s). My angles are open but very narrow. I also have a small cataract on the glaucoma eye.

According to my eye surgeon, there is no optic nerve damage as of yet, but he has just scheduled me for baseline pics of my optic nerve and perifery vision tests. He says he may base his decision to do Trab surgery on the results. I didn't know enough, months ago, to request the baseline tests.

When under treatment pressures shouldn't flux should they? Are trabs done on folks who have no nerve damage? And is the side vision test 100% accurate?

Thanks for any info.

Has anyone had thyroid issues unrelated to glaucoma, and if so, are there any glaucoma issues that have to be considered
in the treatment of this?
My situation is: I have normal tension glaucoma diagnosed 4 years ago: right eye is very damaged, but everything is stabilized
on eye drops, and I haven't lost any further vision since diagnosis. I would like to keep it that way.
In early February, I broke my ankle: it was operated on in order to set it. In the course of the xrays, they xrayed my
neck, which was okay, but "incidentally" (not related to my ankle) discovered 4 thyroid nodules: 3 are cysts, but one
is what is called a complex mass: a combination of cyst and solid. They are going to biopsy this within the next month:
but I understand that malignancy chance is quite low: around 15% chance, however: if the mass is large, they may
want to remove it, or my entire thyroid, regardless, if it is affecting me or causing problems.
I understand that when they remove your thyroid, or even if they just want to shrink its size, they give you medication.
ARe there any glaucoma considerations in this medication (which I think would be thyroid hormone such as Synthroid)?
If you end up in a hypothyroid or hyperthyroid condition due to not having a thyroid, would this have implications on
glaucoma? Including any change in circ`ulation/nourishment to the eye?
I know these two conditions are unrelated, but my highest priority (other than my life, and general health) is preserving/protecting
my eyesight. I even, at the hospital, told them to be careful about giving me any system steroids. Because this is stable,
I am always a little worried about anything that might "push things over the brink". Maybe I am being a little overcautious,
but probabloy better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks,
Lauire

Hence the expression, "I'd give my eye tooth..." !!!
On 2/28/08 10:33 AM, "flying.brain" <flying.brain@...

I just read this news item about a procedure that has apparently restored at least part of
this man's sight. I never heard of it before....
Patricia P
Blind Irishman sees with the aid of son's tooth in his eye
Thu Feb 28, 1:30 AM ET
An Irishman blinded by an explosion two years ago has had his sight restored after
doctors inserted his son's tooth in his eye, he said on Wednesday.
.

As a rule narrow or closed angle glaucoma is treated with simple laser
surgery to open the angle and prevent an attack of acute closure,
which can result in rapid vision loss. For the majority of patients
with narrow angles such treatments will alleviate the problem and in
that case your boyfriend should not need to worry about angle closure
and going blind. The first thing your boyfriend should do is see a
glaucoma specialist who can assess the risk of angle closure and treat
the condition accordingly.
You can help your boyfriend get more accurate information and while
the prospect of losing one's eyesight is scary for almost anyone, he
should understand that there is treatment available to help him save
his vision.
Have him look at this site:
http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/types.php
-Deah

I just read this news item about a procedure that has apparently restored at
least part of
this man's sight. I never heard of it before....
Patricia P
Blind Irishman sees with the aid of son's tooth in his eye
Thu Feb 28, 1:30 AM ET
An Irishman blinded by an explosion two years ago has had his sight restored
after
doctors inserted his son's tooth in his eye, he said on Wednesday.
Bob McNichol, 57, from County Mayo in the west of the country, lost his sight in
a freak
accident when red-hot liquid aluminium exploded at a re-cycling business in
November
2005.
"I thought that I was going to be blind for the rest of my life," McNichol told
RTE state
radio.
After doctors in Ireland said there was nothing more they could do, McNichol
heard about
a miracle operation called Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis (OOKP) being performed
by Dr
Christopher Liu at the Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton in England.
The technique, pioneered in Italy in the 1960s, involves creating a support for
an artificial
cornea from the patient's own tooth and the surrounding bone.
The procedure used on McNichol involved his son Robert, 23, donating a tooth,
its root
and part of the jaw.
McNichol's right eye socket was rebuilt, part of the tooth inserted and a lens
inserted in a
hole drilled in the tooth.
The first operation lasted ten hours and the second five hours.
"It is pretty heavy going," McNichol said. "There was a 65 percent chance of me
getting any
sight.
"Now I have enough sight for me to get around and I can watch television. I have
come out
from complete darkness to be able to do simple things," McNichol said.

Not Glaucoma, but I found this interesting -- if disturbing.
___
Age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness, has been
linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Researchers found the risk of dying from the cardiovascular conditions was
at least doubled in people with AMD.
The study raises the possibility - disputed by UK experts - that drugs for
the condition may be to blame.
___
Full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7266362.stm

I am a 23 year old female and my boyfriend is 20 years older than me.
He has closed angle glaucoma which i think i read was the least common.
I was just wondering if anyone could help me in giving him support
through this tough time. He is deathly afraid of losing his eyesight
and thinks that if this happens i will not want to be with him any
longer. That is very untrue. I love him very much. I just want some
advice or some knowledge on something to do for him just to show him
that i am there for him no matter what.

I was knocked out and the gradually brought to with about 20 min left in the procedure.

The article mentions using this device to treat glaucoma, but the
company Web site only mentions macular degeneration and retinitis
pigmentosa. The product is not approved by the FDA yet so can't be
purchased in the U.S., but it sounds as though you can buy it in
Europe. I sure wouldn't do so without a lot more independent research.
-Deah

http://tinyurl.com/2jg4ak
More about the company -
http://www.scyfix.org/
Hope what they are claiming is true!!

Sherry, can you put this in the file folder for those who don't
receive attachments?
-Deah

Hi,

First of all, thanks everyone for your responses to my question. It appears from all the answers, that everyone has had to have the "needle in the eye" for freezing. As I had said, my glaucoma specialist had told me that he didn't use needles and only used drops for this.

Just wondered if Dr. Ritch could let me know if that is something that is not at all common practice and what his opinion is on the freezing drops for surgery vs. needles.

Thanks!

Patricia

Dr. Ritch,

That was so great to read about the new stem cell research facility in India! That truly does give me some hope that someday there may be a cure for this disease. That has always been where I believed the answer lies. I can hardly wait to see what happens with all of this but it is definitely great news.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Patricia

------ Forwarded Message
From: Maria Irene <mariairene@...
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:11:07 -0000
Conversation: February Newsletter
Subject: February Newsletter

Oh, yeah, that is what gave me glaucoma diagnosed in Dec. with it and finally on
Feb. 5th when I saw specialist, that is what they decided is why I have it.
Was using steroid drops periodically for a couple or more years for eye irritations
and Flonase for sinus problems. They said I have a hyper-sensitivity with build
up affect to steroids that caused it all.
Do any other folks on the list have glaucoma that is steroid induced like me?
emc

Is using topical cortisteriods a problem when diagnosed with Glaucoma? I read
somewhere that steriod use in treatment of medical conditions can cause Glaucoma
or make it worse. Any truth in this?

Hi, you arent unworldly. I just had one once. I dont like the taste of most drinks and I dont like how it feels to drink. I think its a good thing. Also it doesnt appear related to galuacoma. If it were helpful I would go buy some alcohol.
Dwight Ragle <dmragle@...

My ignorance displays how unworldly I am. I try to keep this deficiency hidden but never succeed. Dwight
From: andrea schaerf
a Margareitta has salt on the rim
Dwight Ragle <dmragle@cox.net

Alcoholic beverages aren't helpful with glaucoma. For those patients who
have low blood pressure (hypotension), salt intake can possibly increase the
blood pressure. Hypotension is a risk factor for Normal Tensions Glaucoma.
Salt is what we were discussing. Many people drink vodka in their V8
juice.... V8 juice is high in sodium. Margueritas have salt along the rim,
another way to get more salt in the diet. A couple of listers got just a
little silly - maybe too much vodka on their salt tablets <rbg
Sherry

------ Forwarded Message
From: Medscape Resource Center Update <cmereview@...
Reply-To: Medscape Resource Center Update <cmereview-ctg0ieb6saafe2jqpvltbrd4duusameq@...
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:24:50 -0500 (EST)
To: <ritchmd@...
Subject: IOP Variability in Glaucoma

Resource Center Update
<http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/hBht40KIcFg0Dy40Imkf0Ef
IOP Variability in Glaucoma <http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/hBht40KIcFg0Dy40JF6d0E7
Recent work suggests that variability of IOP may be an important marker in patients with glaucoma. Click here <http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/hBht40KIcFg0Dy40JF6e0E8
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