Emergency! Father Needs Expensive Drug To Save Sight

Merrywidow

Morning Judy. My mother has dry eye MD and they told me in the beginning that she would not go blind. However the combination of cataract removal and glaucoma has left her with a blurred image that to all intents and purpose is a blindness. Did you know that Glaucoma sufferers experience their own "video" life. My mother sees soldiers marching past her window, she sees rows of daffodils, planes landing etc etc. Hospital said this was very much par for the course. Just thought I would mention all that in case any relatives of Glaucoma sufferers thought their nearest and dearest were going senile.

mathsForFun

pinkcloudnine wrote: »

My dad is receiving Lucentis on the NHS with no charge, the HA didn't even quibble. Said he qualified due poor sight in other eye.

Thanks very much. Which Health Authority do you come under, please, if you don't mind divulging?

To judy2357: he was the wet type of ARMD.

Thank you very much to everyone who has responded - there is a good deal of valuable information in this thread - and it's still growing!

judy2357

Merrywidow wrote: »

Morning Judy. My mother has dry eye MD and they told me in the beginning that she would not go blind. However the combination of cataract removal and glaucoma has left her with a blurred image that to all intents and purpose is a blindness. Did you know that Glaucoma sufferers experience their own "video" life. My mother sees soldiers marching past her window, she sees rows of daffodils, planes landing etc etc. Hospital said this was very much par for the course. Just thought I would mention all that in case any relatives of Glaucoma sufferers thought their nearest and dearest were going senile.

Thank you for replying there was an item in the newspaper recently regarding a lady having an operation at a private hospital near Truro for dry eyed MD and this is what my father is enquirying about although I have got my doubts whether it will be suitable but its worth a try and I understand it will cost £6000 plus, which if successful is well worth it. Hope all goes well with your mum.

Merrywidow

Good for your Dad, Judy. I wonder if it was because Mum was 90 when this all came to be. She is 95 now. I read the leaflets I got from the eye clinic and the dry eye was treated with drops but the wet was operable. Maybe things have changed since then. Best of luck.

Errata

Merrywidow wrote: »

Morning Judy. My mother has dry eye MD and they told me in the beginning that she would not go blind. However the combination of cataract removal and glaucoma has left her with a blurred image that to all intents and purpose is a blindness. Did you know that Glaucoma sufferers experience their own "video" life. My mother sees soldiers marching past her window, she sees rows of daffodils, planes landing etc etc. Hospital said this was very much par for the course. Just thought I would mention all that in case any relatives of Glaucoma sufferers thought their nearest and dearest were going senile.

I've had glaucoma for nearly 30 years and have never heard of this, nor have I or the other members of my family with glaucoma experienced it. Is this phenomenon very rare ?

Merrywidow

Wow Errata, glad to hear it. I discovered it when I took Mum for one of her check ups at the eye hospital. Mum was relating all these "visions" to her doctor and he explained that it was a very normal thing. He even mentioned the visions that his own MIL had. Wow - maybe it was all lies to alay Mum's fears. Anyways she has them daily still. I will have a check on the Internet and see if I can find any truth to it. Guess I have to be careful with my "so called" knowledge.

judy2357

This was on the news tonight, I only caught the end of it but thought it might interest OP and the rest of you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7478173.stm

Sorry if im repeating what anyone else has said but Ive only just got in.

Merrywidow

errata - I was wondering if this only happens at the more advance stages of glaucoma - you obviously are no where near this as you can read and write. Will ask around again at the eye clinic.

ceebeeby

My HB prescribes lucentis to anyone who needs it, within waiting times guarantees. Although I'm in one of the 'devolved' countries. In light of news today, go back to HB, if they still refuse, raise official complaint, and take it all the way to the ombudsman (will take a total of 20 days for first), 20 days for second though .... I also agree, get your local paper on board too.

Errata

Merrywidow wrote: »

errata - I was wondering if this only happens at the more advance stages of glaucoma - you obviously are no where near this as you can read and write. Will ask around again at the eye clinic.

I understnad that there are two types of gluacoma, acute and chronic. Acute needs to be treated immediately to prevent blindness, chronic is managed with drops. Mine is chronic, and I've never been told the glaucoma will get worse. Someone else may have a different experience.