The President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists answers your questions!

[Rachel_GlaucomaUK]

At the end of this month we’re interviewing Prof Bernie Chang who is the latest President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists for an article for our membership magazine (glaucoma.uk/about-us/our-me.... He has kindly agreed to answer questions from our members and everyone we support about Ophthalmic services in the UK and the eye health care landscape.

Prof Chang isn't a glaucoma specialist so he won't be able to answer personal queries about glaucoma - but our helpline team are on hand to help with that!

Are you concerned about glaucoma services post-COVID?

Do you want to know how eye care will fare against cancer, diabetes and heart disease, and what’s being done to raise its profile?

Send us your questions by 23 October by commenting below and we’ll try and get answers for you.

[Canoeist]

If you have closed Angle Glaucoma and eye pressure is normal can you take eye drops to help if you develop closure.This the question I would like to Ask.Prof Bernie Chang.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Canoeist]

Hello Canoeist,

If you have been diagnosed with Primary angle closure glaucoma I would assume that you have already received treatment. If you have had a successful iridotomy and your consultant is happy with the results, eye drops may not be needed but you will be regularly monitored.

[Canoeist in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

No I have had no treatment pressure in eye normal.I was diagnosed 2 years ago.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Canoeist]

If you were diagnosed with angle glaucoma you should have received some sort of treatment to stop anymore damage which, as I mentioned before is normally laser. If it was successful you would have been discharged unless your consultant felt you needed monitoring. If you only had narrow angles with no signs of glaucoma, treatment may not have been necessary. You may have been discharged and advised of the warning signs to look out for. The signs are halos around lights, Feeling nauseous, having a really bad headache (think migraine headache). If you experience any of these then you would need to get to the A & E as it could be a sign that your eye pressure has risen. However, If you don't remember being discharged it would be a good idea to check with the eye clinic. You could also check with your GP as they would have received a letter regarding your appointment. Patient's normally receive a copy of the letter too. Eye drops are prescribed to bring the eye pressure down and to maintain it. As your eye pressure is normal, eye drops would not have been prescribed and not deemed necessary.

[Wales99]

Hi. My question is that my Opticians missed the signs of Glaucoma in my eye despite me having a strong family history of it (mum, aunts, uncles & cousins). At the time I was on beta blockers for what was thought to be daily migraines. Would the beta blockers have “masked” the signs of glaucoma?

[Rachel_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Wales99]

Hi Wales99 ,

Thanks so much for commenting your question. I'll definitely pass this on!

Thank you,

Rachel

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to Wales99]

Hello Wales99

The betablockers wouldn't have masked the glaucoma itself. If there were signs of glaucoma at the time of your appointment this should have been picked up during the regular eye examination.

[Anonoms]

When will glaucoma patients be given the same dignity as say, pregnant women, and be routinely permitted to keep copies of their scans and field test results themselves? Would this not encourage engagement if patients have deteriorating field results and work as a useful back up for when records are not available? This has been requested and refused on grounds of 'cost'.

[Rachel_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hi Anonoms ,

Thanks so much for commenting your question. I've passed this on to be asked at the interview.

[Nonswimmer]

I have advanced acute glaucoma, can I take any medication for neuropathy ( nerve pain in both feet any legs) which will not increase eye pressures please? nonswimmer.