Hi I will be as brief as possible, I’m 51 I have bad health anxiety, but this time I wasn’t prepared to be told I had a health issue rather than thinking I had one. Went to spec savers my eyes were running as I had make-up on ... Pressure test fine, field of vision fine, then she totally freaked me out and said she needs to refer me for acute angle Glaucoma ( last June in corona lockdown ) went to the hospital yesterday, I rang advance to say about my health anxiety, I was reassured that everything would be okay, what a horrible experience!
Did all the usual tests and I knew the third test needed to be explained to me, I am one of those people whom if a drop of rain or shower water goes in my eyes! I can’t see and it stings, the man was totally un reassuring and said yes they will sting ! Come back another day incase you have a panic attack and we can do both procedures at once !! Wait both ?? Yes he said laser where we burn hole! His communication skills were awful! I sat on the hospital wall waiting for a taxi, my phone was bursting with notifications but I just couldn’t speak to anyone, anyway this morning after spending all night on Dr Google I’ve booked in to go private for the initial tests, I have chosen an English-speaking consultant and I go in two weeks time. My question to this lovely community is can someone reassure me about the numbing drops ( I’m petrified) if they sting I won’t be able to open my eye ! So how can he do the test? How can I have laser my anxiety would explode ? Imagine weeks of patches on your eyes and not been able to see? To clarify I think it’s acute angle glaucoma? Somebody help me ... thanks in advance... xxxx
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Athena123
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I’m still waiting for my first appt , having it next month , I’m a suspect for narrow angles too.I am diabetic so do have yearly eye screens for diabetic retinopathy where they use those drops .
They do sting for a minute or two , that’s all , it’s to enlarge your pupils. Take sunglasses as you become light sensitive for a while after . They make eyesight blurry and then it gradually wears off , can be a couple of hours or more .
Can’t comment about laser , but if you are having lazer one through iris which is the usual one for closed angles, others I read about who have had it say it’s done quickly and not painful , might be slight discomfort .
Athena123, this is obviously very difficult for you to deal with in conjunction with your anxiety. Being told you possibly have any form of glaucoma is a shock at the best of time. I have had numbing drops put in my eyes on quite a few occasions and for me personally I didn't actually even feel them going in. I didn't even have blurry vision apart from first few minutes and could see perfectly well by time my appointment was finished.
I have never had SLT but my friend has had it a couple of times, it only takes 5/10 mins and she said painless. She in fact got herself home afterwards by train and bus !!! Her eyesight was blurry for a few days at no point could she not see at all.
I have been scared before every procedure but I have always known that each procedure is preferable to losing my vision in my 50s. The fear is much worse than anything I have actually had done.
I'm sorry I don't know how to help with your actual anxiety. Having a consultant who actually explains everything clearly to you, who will listen and answer questions definitely helps.
I would give Glaucoma UK a call and explain how you are feeling as I found found them excellent when I was first diagnosed with glaucoma . This forum is also great as you will find you are never the only one going through this.
Thanks... I just feel my brain has gone into a coma with worry ... I have 7 children one at home who’s only 10 .. it’s all I can focus on ... since Sunday I keep seeing floaters , I wake up 6 times a night feeling like my eyes are aching ? I tried to ring the helpline but nobody answered I’m sure closed angle was mentioned... I don’t think specsavers should be allowed to diagnose something then leave you hanging with out reassurance... it’s only because they have fancy new machines ... I could have had this years ! 50 percent of Americans have glaucoma and don’t even know ... I liked living in ignorance .. nobody in my family grandparents parents has ever had glaucoma or any major illness... when I was 21 I had a lump in my breast ! They wanted to poke me about ! I refused and 7 kids later at 51 I’m still here ... never had a smear as friends have and some have had womb removal and then nothing was wrong after all! I’ve never had any type of vaccine ( never been ill ) I’m a size 8 not overweight ... I’ve smoked since the day I was born almost .. I don’t even have a smokers cough ! So to go for a simple eye test and have the fear of god put though you is awful ! I know prevention is better than cure but laying in bed for the last 9 months thinking my eyes might explode at any moment like tomatoes or I’m going to wake up blind is terrible.... once I get through the poke your eyes and make them sting test I have the fear of laser treatment to worry about , how did the silly man at the hospital describe it ( burnt ) ??? I will make a massive complaint to specsavers!! You should not be allowed to frighten people and send them away like you have just issued there death sentence... I cope well with my anxiety but the last few months have been horrific... I just need reassurance and don’t feel like I’m getting it /( didn’t suffer with depression until I went to bloody specsavers ! Never again ... thanks guys for listening xx
Im not surprised you are in such a state ,living for all those months without any proper clarification of your diagnosis. Having such a young child at home obviously adds to your fears as you want to stay well and healthy for your children.Some consultants definitely are very lacking in people skills and any sort of empathy .
Your floaters and aching eyes aren't something I would leave, can you phone hospital where you are seeing private consultant and explain these symptoms and see what their response is. Or call a local opticians for advice , not Specsavers !!!
Reassurance is definitely very important at this time . Sending you hugs. X
Doctors don’t answer they just fob you off, helplines are too busy to talk, I think the floaters and eye dryness is anxiety 😥... I shall sue specsavers if the diagnosis is wrong ... going private in two weeks... nice English man who is extremely qualified ! Comes to something when you have to borrow money to get seen by someone who treats you as a person instead of cattle .... I’m just very lost and sad 😞 xx
It is very sad that you have to go private to be treated decently. I would like to think drs like the one you saw are in the minority. Stress and anxiety definitely do manifest themselves physically. I hope the consultant you are due to see will allay some of your fears and your diagnosis is more positive than you are probably expecting. It's natural to expect the worst when we are facing the unknown. I do hope your feelings of being sad and loss go once you are being dealt with in a more empathetic way . X
As promised an update. Went private this morning to see a consultant. Told him my awful experience with specsavers and the local hospital. Had the drops ( no stinging or blurred vision ) also had a contact lens put on my eye to investigate further . In his words you don’t have glaucoma and people are born with narrow angles , he discharged me and said he would see me again in a year ... so sometimes it’s worth a second opinion. 9 months of no sleep and chronic anxiety drained away ! Thanks guys for all your advice !! X
Oh Athena so glad to hear your positive news. It was definitely worth going private for you, although just awful you went through months of such anxiety beforehand. You must be so relieved. Your consultant sounds great and thorough which is what you want.
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I’m sure closed angle was mentioned... I don’t think specsavers should be allowed to diagnose something then leave you hanging with out reassurance... it’s only because they have fancy new machines ... I could have had this years ! 50 percent of Americans have glaucoma and don’t even know ... I liked living in ignorance .. nobody in my family grandparents parents has ever had glaucoma or any major illness... when I was 21 I had a lump in my breast ! They wanted to poke me about ! I refused and 7 kids later at 51 I’m still here ... never had a smear as friends have and some have had womb removal and then nothing was wrong after all! I’ve never had any type of vaccine ( never been ill ) I’m a size 8 not overweight ... I’ve smoked since the day I was born almost .. I don’t even have a smokers cough ! So to go for a simple eye test and have the fear of god put though you is awful ! I know prevention is better than cure but laying in bed for the last 9 months thinking my eyes might explode at any moment like tomatoes or I’m going to wake up blind is terrible.... once I get through the poke your eyes and make them sting test I have the fear of laser treatment to worry about , how did the silly man at the hospital describe it ( burnt ) ??? I will make a massive complaint to specsavers!! You should not be allowed to frighten people and send them away like you have just issued there death sentence... I cope well with my anxiety but the last few months have been horrific... I just need reassurance and don’t feel like I’m getting it /( didn’t suffer with depression until I went to bloody specsavers ! Never again ... thanks guys for listening xx 
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