Glaucoma *updated* | Arthritis Information
well, I got it!
Nice, huh? another thing to add to my repertoire!
amazingly, my opthamologist believes it is being created by one of my meds...... I am trying to find out which one... but the finger is strongly pointing toward my NSAID. She saw me a month ago and it was at one stage, she said it is rapidly progressing and so we are going to move quickly to resolve the issues. (IF you take steroids you are highly likely to have glaucoma -- I don't but I take NSAIDS every day)
I am scheduled for surgery on May 6th for the right eye and after that we'll schedule the second one.... she said it's laser and takes a short time, but that I may have blurry vision in that eye for an hour or so..... (picture me driving home like a pirate, me matey! arghhhhh!
I've said it before.... PLEASE, have your eyes checked often. You only get two and if glaucoma takes them ...... she won't give them back...... be sure to have the glaucoma test!!!
best to you all
babs102009-05-06 15:57:09Aw, Babs, that's a bummer. Glad they caught it early. I've had laser eye surgery - not so bad but the gritty dry eye afterwards made me want to go home and keep my eyes shut for the rest of the day. Good luck and thanks for the reminder- I've got my eye dr appt next week![QUOTE=ColoMo] Good luck and thanks for the reminder- I've got my eye dr appt next week![/QUOTE]
you got it! and make sure they run the glaucoma test!!! good luck to you!
bumping.. because you all need to read this....
IF You take an NSAID.... this is a possibility for you too.Babs, I'm so sorry that something else has happened. Glaucoma is one of the things that I make sure I'm screened for. I have steroid induced cataracts that will have to come off sometime, not ready yet. Surgery is quick and simple but it's not the end all, is it? Do you have to continue with drops, etc.? Can surgery be done a second time? I don't know much about it. Take care and here's lots of hugs. Lindybecause I have been so closely monitored these last two years, she saw this coming but was hoping it would reduce on its own... it is VERY early in the process and I am extremely lucky I have no vision loss ... Usually it is discovered when there is loss of sight... not so in this case, which is why I stress that you should have the glaucoma exam done if you have any autoimmune disease.
It's not a big deal ..... really.. It means a couple afternoons off from work and some surgery which I can't imagine would be so painful.. and missing two doses of enbrel....
My eyes are so important to me.. I consider myself very blessed to have been DX'ed this early!! no loss of vision..... it's a good thing.
Thanks for caring, LinB
the eye doctor would have to have a nurse put me in a half-nelson to keep me still for it,
that was a funny visual, SnowOwl
What sort of symptoms did you have Babs? How old are you? I'll check out your link later; but I was curious about those questions.
I've been poppin OTC NSAIDS like crazy for years; but after this recent elecated Kidney test I've been much more aware or the need to be more cautious.
I'm sorry to hear about your Dx. Does the surgery greatly improve things for you?
Dang, Babs! That really bites! Thank-you for the web-site, really good to know and I had no clue so many drugs could cause this kind of problem! May 6th is not too far away. I am really impressed with you attitude - hitch up them britches and march forward! Way to go, Babs, you are an inspiration!
[QUOTE=Lovie]What sort of symptoms did you have Babs? How old are you? I'll check out your link later; but I was curious about those questions.
I've been poppin OTC NSAIDS like crazy for years; but after this recent elecated Kidney test I've been much more aware or the need to be more cautious.
I'm sorry to hear about your Dx. Does the surgery greatly improve things for you?
[/QUOTE]
Lovie:
I'm only 51 years.... and I had NO symptoms..
that's why it is ultimately important that you have your eyes checked at least yearly and have the glaucoma test... by virtue of having RA, we are more prone to many eye issues.
Waddie:
Thanks.. but I'm just being realistic, I think. This is a best case scenario catching it early as they did.
Babs! I am sorry to read this. I knew that NSAIDS could induce cataracts but did not know about glaucoma. I will read the link you provided, but first wanted you to know you are in my thoughts.
My very best wishes, Shug
Thanks for the reminder on an eye-checkup. I think I'm at least 6 months late - always something else to do, but better get that scheduled soon! Sorry to hear it has progressed to warrant surgery Babs! I was so hoping you would be helped with the drops! Best of luck with the surgery but please remind us again right before.
Glaucoma really has no symptoms until it's too late and permanent damage is done to the optic nerve. I was told that I had it from all the prednisone I've been on BUT went to another doc to get a second opinion and he said that there is absolutely no evidence of damage to my optic nerve and I still have 20/20 vision. I did however have pretty high pressure levels in both eyes which is called ocular hypertension.
The surgery was suggested by the new opthalmologist but only as a last resort if none of the drops worked for me. A few weeks ago when I went in..the pressures were high end of normal but they were normal so now I only use one eyedrop.
Good luck with the laser surgery Babs...from what he told me about it, it's really not all that bad.
Bob
thanks for that, bob.....
I opted out of the drops... I already take two kinds of drops a day in my eyes several times over the day... and my sigjht is too important to chance.....I just wanted it taken care of , over and done.... one less worry maybe?
In the tumult of yesterday, somehow I missed this.
Lynn492009-04-22 04:28:40thanks, Lynn........ I'll be just fine.well.. I was right..
I am just fine.
Had the first eye done today....... I arrived at Optha's office at 12:20...... I was on my merry way home by 1:40 pm........
Laser surgery is incredible!!! fast.. minimal pain... quick healing!!
Good on you! I am so glad to hear it was relatively easy and minimally painful. Please be careful and wear your dark glasses.
Cheers, Shug
[QUOTE=babs10]well.. I was right..
I am just fine.
Had the first eye done today....... I arrived at Optha's office at 12:20...... I was on my merry way home by 1:40 pm........
Laser surgery is incredible!!! fast.. minimal pain... quick healing!!
[/QUOTE]
So sorry I missed this, glad everything went ok....tommorrow I am making an eye appointment, have been having some strange problems with my eyes like not being able to read my teachers guide with my glasses ( I am nearsighted) sometimes have trouble seeing the computer screen of my laptop, now I am ok but it has been weird!
Glad to hear all went well. Thanks for the update, otherwise I may have missed this important information. None of my doctors have mentioned any reason to keep tabs on my eyes (so to speak) and I have had some blurry vision which I chalked up to progressing age.
Another thing to add to the doc visit next time. Thanks again and I hope the 2nd goes as well as the first.
Good luck today and when your second eye is done. Amazing medical advances we have nowadays!
You motivated me with your original posting so I made an appt fast. When I was on Plaquenil, I had my retina etc checked like clockwork, but not since.
So, I went and had the whole nine yards checked. Everything is good except I need a new Rx for my distance glasses because.... you not going to believe this; my vision is getting better! He said that commonly happens with age. Maybe in 40 years, I'll be like my 99+1/2 year old Great-Aunt; just the other day, she was bragging about how she no longer needs glasses to see far or the tv. Imagine that! By the way, her name is Catherine and her twin sister's is Marie.... check out my name. (I don't really have them stuck together, Marie is my middle name)
yes! I wore my sunglasses home ..... thanks for that Shug!
Maria... thanks for your good wishes and please get your eyes checked!! NJMarie.. glad to see you posting!! It could Be just progressing age...we can't tell and glaucoma has no pain associated from what I've been told.
CathyMarie.... wow.. I'd love to have my vision improve as I aged!! Glad I prompted you to get a check up!! and your results were so good!!
[QUOTE=SnowOwl]Glad the first treatment went well, Babs. So no eyepatch? How can you play Pirate Queen without an eyepatch? [/QUOTE]
funny thing... that's what my husband said.. before he said he'd bring one home!! Babs so glad you did well and shame on me that I forgot you were having this done today. I must have missed the post that said so.
I am sorry I overlooked this thread. and of lately I have been forgetting to go back to threads I intended to read and then forgot to read them.
Is getting your eyes checked for glacoma the same as getting your optic nerve checked? Because I had that checked sometime last year, when I was seeing "bugs" marching up the wall while I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep or when I was sitting up sometimes. Seems I have a saggy jelly thing in my eyes, the right worse than the left.
I am glad the surgery went well, hope the next one goes just as smooth.
I missed this one too! Glad everything went well! I hope the healing goes well.
Babs, how are you, and your eye, today?
thanks, Shug... all is great..
I'm busy busy busy at work.. and seeing perfectly!! (of course that's because my glasses allow me to
YAY!!
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