Margery's Story

I was diagnosed with glaucoma about 30 years ago when I was 65 or 67 years old. I am now 97!

Two of my sisters developed glaucoma and like me, managed their sight with eye drops to lower the pressure. One of my daughters has now also developed the beginning of glaucoma. It seems to only affect the girls in the family!

I have been going to the same eye specialist in Glen Waverley for all these years for regular check-ups. He was the one who detected that I had glaucoma when he was checking my eyes for reading glasses.

I have had many different types of drops for my eyes over the years. By taking drops in my eyes regularly every day, I can still see to read (with glasses) and see reasonably well for distance. This has meant that I have been able to remain independent. If I didn’t have my eye sight, I’d have to rely on others for full time care. I can even do my jigsaws (large size for my arthritic hands, not my sight).

Last year I suddenly became allergic to the preservative in my eye drops. I should have mentioned that my eyes felt scratchy and things were becoming blurry. But I thought it was just my age!!  I am not on drops that have no preservative (Ganfort) and they are in little individual files. I can still put these in myself, but my daughter helps with a moisturiser ointment.

I always kept a written record of when I had taken the drops as there were often two types and required at different times. I kept this record with dates and morning or night, on index cards and just ticked and crossed them off when I had done them. That way I never forgot a dose, even when my memory was not so good.

I recommend that everyone get their eyes tested regularly and if you have glaucoma, you will be okay, just take the drops every day. It is really only a small inconvenience for keeping your sight.