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My personal experience with a glaucoma diagnosis was alarming. I didn't have any tell-tale signs of vision loss but thankfully my Optometrist detected increased pressure during a routine eye check. I am grateful it was picked up early and knew I had to act quickly. I soon learned that my grandmother had glaucoma too.
l am 55 years old and very fit for my age. I drink alcohol infrequently and never smoked. I personally believe my glaucoma was triggered by my changing hormones during perimenopause.
After diagnosis, I was dreading going to the Ophthalmologist as I had terrible side effects to the Xalatan eyedrops*, which made my eyes turn red and caused a rash on the upper eye lid and corner of my eye. I also had a severe adverse reaction to a single drop of Pilocarpine in my left eye prior to my Trabeculoplasty laser surgery.
Thankfully after successful Trabeculoplasty treatment in both eyes, I do not need to use eyedrops anymore. I understand that each patient will have a different reaction to drops but my personal experience was horrible! They were put into my eyes with no explanation except that they will ‘shrink my iris’ and ‘anaesthetise my eyes’.
What I would like to tell others is that it is very important to ask about the potential side effects of eye drops. These can be unpleasant, for example your eyes could change color and the skin around the eyes can turn dark. I now insist on asking my Ophthalmologist what is being put into my eyes.
Luckily, I don’t need drops now as I had successful Trabeculoplasty surgery on both eyes soon after diagnosis. Time will tell how long the Trabeculoplasty will help me, and I hope to never need drops again.
Whilst my experience has been tumultuous, I am grateful to my Optometrist acting on her suspicion of glaucoma and I am grateful to my Ophthalmologist for quickly encouraging me to consider Trabeculoplasty. I am also thankful for the support I have received from Glaucoma Australia.
Above all, I am relieved I still have my vision.
*Although Lynda had a negative experience with Xalatan, please note that each individual will have a different experience with their glaucoma eye drops, most having minor or no reactions.
I didn't have any tell-tale signs of vision loss but thankfully my Optometrist detected increased pressure during a routine eye check.Lynda
Living in York Peninsula community two hour's drive from Adelaide and with no optometrist in her local community, Debra booked an appointment as soon as she could. That’s when she received her life changing diagnosis.
When Bette Smith’s cousin told her they had glaucoma in the family, she did what all Australians should be doing, she got her eyes checked.
My mother was diagnosed with glaucoma when she was about seventy, so I was closely monitored. When there were indicators that I could be following the same path, I was referred to a glaucoma specialist.