Glaucoma tests

[angie loves veg]

Hi all

I had my eyes tested last week as it was two years since my last test. I wear glasses, and have done for about 20 years. I am female, age 35, I have a stigmatism in both eyes.

Last time I had my eyes tested was in Spain where they performed a Glaucoma test. Apparently I was 'borderline' and they recommended that I had a retest in England after 2 years.

So that is what I did.

I understand that my right eye is fine 20/19/20
My left eye tested at 21/22/20, so they asked if I could pop back for a retest on my left eye this week. I had this done yesterday and my results were 28/26/28.

The lady could offer absolutely no information as to what this means, or what might happen next (other than they 'might be in contact'). I understand that there is a upper limit of 21, but can anyone tell me what I might expect to happen over the next few weeks or subsequently?

Thanks

[Toots]

If you have glaucoma I believe you need to be referred to your local eye hospital in order for it to be diagnosed properly and treated. My father has glaucoma and takes two different types of eye drops and has to go back to the hospital to have the pressure monitored regularly.

On one occasion he had some sort of laser treatment as an outpatient where he had anaesthetic drops put into his eye prior to a small hole being lasered in order to relieve some pressure when it was very high. No pain - no side effects - felt fine straight away.

I have no idea what his pressure measurements as he is a lot older and they seem to treat him as an idiot who isn't entitled to have information.

If your optician doesn't do a refferal letter I would ask your GP to refer you to an eye hospital/eye department as glaucoma shouldn't be left untreated.

[silvercar]

Well done for making sure you had this test. Normally in the UK opticians don't test until the age of 40 unless there is a famial history of glaucoma.

normal eye pressure reading would be about 11, anything over 24/25 is considered to be a level where action would be taken.

Your optician should now refer you to an opthalmologist for further eye tests and treatment.

Treatment is usually of the form of eye drops.

The bad news is that you will probably have touse eye drops for ever.

The good news is that you have spotted this early and saved your sight. The other good news is that you and your immediate blood relatives (parents, children and siblings) will be eligible for free eye tests.

[Horace]

Well done for getting tested early.

I have glaucoma and it affects both eyes - mine is not hereditory but is secondary to an eye disease. My pressures have been as high as 32 in the left and 53 in the right - for a normal person pressures are normally between 18-21.

You can get more information from IGA (international glaucoma association). I think that their web address is iga.com but can't swear to it).

Depending on the severity you may have to take glaucoma drops for the rest of your life but you may not - I recently had two bouts of surgery and since my final op in April I haven't had to take any of my glaucoma drops, just steroid drops to keep my eye disease at bay.

You will need to attend the eye hospital regularly as when you have received their diagnosis, you should contact the DVLA to advise them (they will arrange for you to have an eye test with your glasses on), they will then say whether or not you can drive, they may set restrictions or they may not.

At the eye hospital you can also expect to have field vision tests, these can be quite tiring on the eyes as you have one eye covered, the other looks through a lens and little lights are flashed on and off and you have to press a button when you see one.

If you have any queries, feel free to send me a PM.

[sillyvixen]

if your last pressure test was performed by somebody in the practice other than an optician- they will not be able to give you any further detail - the info should be passed on to an optician who will reveiw it and let you know if any further action is required.

the automatic equiptment is so easy to use nowdays that the newest member of shop floor staff can use it within a few miniutes of starting the job, however the shop floor staff are not clinically able to advise on the results of the tests.

i would wait 2 days to see if they contact you, if in this time contact them, be prepared for an optician not to be available as they are testing and insist the optician calls you back. call when you know you are going to be available to wait for a call.

[angie loves veg]

Thank you all so very much for your messages. It is far more reassuring to have an idea of what to expect ahead.

I have had a field of vision test, and again, I had to have this done twice in my left eye - just the once in my right.

A quick query - this might just be me imagining things, but my left eye feels funny at the moment - feels (for want of a better description) slightly too big and slightly sore and it seems to tire easily. Is it likely that I am imagining things, or does glaucoma register as something one can 'feel'?

[Horace]

Hi Angie,

When the pressure is high, the eye can feel odd almost as though it is too big. I would ring the optician tomorrow or failing that take yourself to the local eye casualty (that way you can be seen quicker).

I shall be taking myself off to the eye casualty myself tomorrow because my eyes feel odd - I can't work out if they are tired or if the pressure has gone up (I have previously had very low pressure and since my op in April, the pressures have been creeping slowly upwards). At my local eye hospital they don't mind if I turn up on spec - usually they put my mind at rest but it never hurts to check.

Hope this puts your mind at rest?

[angie loves veg]

Thank you Horace, it sounds like I may indeed be experiencing a change in pressure. I shall contact the Optician tomorrow, and see where we go from there.

I have started to look at the IGA pages that you recommended. It looks very interesting, thanks again.

[sillyvixen]

try to contact optician but in the mean time if you get any pain or flashing light type symptoms go to A&E

[angie loves veg]

I thought an update was required for all you lovely people who gave me your advice before.

Although I waited a while, I ws indeed referred first to my GP, then to the eye clinic at West Suffollk Hospital.

At the beginning of November I had further visual field tests, and this morning I had a full consultation, eye photograph, dilated pupils, pressures redone, eye thickness tests etc etc! I am very pleased to report that the Registrar considers my eyes to be very healthy, and whilst his pressure tests were 20 for both eyes, he considers me to have no immediate problems and unlikely to have future problems - which is all very reassuring :)

I have to return in one year, but assuming no changes will be discharged then.

So thanks again for all the support and information I received back in July.

[Valley's girl]

I am so pleased that everything is ok it must be such a relief.
Take care
Ally xx

[Skint_Catt]

Well done for making sure you had this test. Normally in the UK opticians don't test until the age of 40 unless there is a famial history of glaucoma.

I have no family history of glaucoma and have always had this test at High Street opticians. I had one last saturday - and I'm 31. :confused:

[tidus]

Just wanted to clarify a couple of points in the above posts.

Most people do not have any symptoms relating to high intraocular pressure. You can't "feel" it unless the pressure is extreamly high, then you'll be in severe pain/vomiting. This is the whole problem with the normal, slow progressive type of glaucoma - you don't have any symptoms until you start to loose your side vision.

Normal Optometrists can detect a glaucoma suspect quite easily, so the only thing to do is get regular examinations.

The reason some of the glaucoma tests are not done in the under 40's is simply because the condtion is very rare under this age. Increasing these day however, the tests are being done on all adults.

[sillyvixen]

glad everything worked out well for you - it may well be worth sticking to the same optical company for further tests in the future - as they will have records of your previous pressure results and should recieve a letter from the hospital stating what investigations were done and the outcome - and next time you attend for an eye test that will have a better idea of your pressures and what has gone on previously.