Basil's Story

I have a family history of glaucoma and I was detected having glaucoma myself some 20+ years ago. Under the care of an ophthalmologist, eye drops (Ganfort) and yearly field of vision test, my glaucoma was stable. 

About a year or so ago my eye pressure was still stable in the mid teens but my field of vision was getting narrower (can I say my glaucoma was getting worse) perhaps due to family history and my ageing. My ophthalmologist started to be puzzled and suggested I have a brain scan and there was nothing sinister found. My ophthalmologist, still concerned, then referred me to an ophthalmologist specialising in glaucoma management, who recommended to me to continue to use Ganfort and add Simbrinza eye drops for 6 weeks. If my eye pressure does not reduce then to consider to have eye surgery (trabeculectomy). Of course I became stressed as there are risks in any open surgery. 

I requested my original ophthalmologist to give me a referral for  a second opinion from another ophthalmologist who also specialises in glaucoma management, who suggested I can have SLT (selective laser trabeculoplasty) done. If SLT does not reduce my eye pressure, then consider MIGS (minimal invasive glaucoma surgery). If MIGS still does not reduce my eye pressure then and only then consider trabeculectomy. This second glaucoma specialist ophthalmologist also recommended to me to take Vitamin B3 to strengthen my optic nerve and to do a sleep study as sleep apnea has an influence on the health of the optic nerve. 

I have 2 recommendations and starting to get confused and more stressed. To take the first recommendation and hope to have the problem fixed or to take the second recommendation which is a step by step approach (am I going to waste precious time as my glaucoma is certainly getting worse). Not sure what to do I searched for a solution from someone who could give me an independent view. 

Enter Val from Glaucoma Australia (GA). We discussed extensively via telephone my dilemma. Every step of our discussions Val was

1. very comforting (allay my stress), 

2. knowledgeable (explained the advantages and disadvantages of each of the recommendations from the glaucoma management specialists),

3.resourceful (provided me articles and links to read and videos to watch in my own time)

4.understanding (listened to my negativity and supported me with positive thoughts).

There were more than one telephone conversations and few exchanges of emails. Each interaction with Val gave me more confidence to choose the treatment I would take. I am in the process of going through the second recommendation. 

After I have made my decision , Val regularly followed  up to enquire how I feel. This is ongoing which I am very grateful. 

I told my GP (general  practitioner) and optometrist of my awesome experience with Val (of course representing GA) and both had taken note to recommend to their patients who may  need more advice on glaucoma management to contact GA.