Laser treatment

[Engima]

Hi, does anyone know if it is possible to have laser treatment for glaucoma after cataract procedures have been carried out.

[Hidden]

Hi Enigma,removal of cataracts does not stop you being able to have laser treatment.

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Just wondered in case I have to have it at a later date. Was wondering whether laser treatment would work better for me than the eye drops. But will ask about that after I have had the cataracts removed.

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

I know someone who had both and her pressure is lower now than it's ever been but we are all different and respond differently. It's definitely worth enquiring about. I would personally rather have a procedure than take eye drops.I also just googled steroid responder and during a trial only 5% of participants were.

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

That's good to know. Probably not worth me asking until after the cataract procedures, but I will definitely do so.

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

It definitely is as you are having a dreadful time with side effects from eye drops. My consultant had initially considered SLT for me but it turned out I wasn't a very good candidate for it so I had trab instead . Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for your cataract ops, I had mine done within 6 weeks of each other. It was ideal just having it all over and done with in a short time frame.

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, will probably be scared about having laser treatment (all supposing I am able to have it and they do not say I am too old!) but if it works...... Going to have another try at contacting someone at the eye clinic tomorrow and hope I get somewhere this time!

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

My friend who had SLT is 70 so she was 69 when she had it, I don't think there is an age limit. Any eye procedure is a scary thought but SLT is over very quickly and uncomfortable apparently but not painful.

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

I've just turned 71. Did your friend have any after effects or her eyes feel uncomfortable. Or does she not feel as if it had been done after the event!

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

She felt a bit uncomfortable but that was only for a couple of hours. She has the most amazing attitude and totally puts me to shame.

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I'm a bit of a coward as well. My cat who has stomach cancer and is receiving chemo and steroids at the moment copes much better with that than I am with my eyes! Finally managed to speak to the eye clinic about the trouble I am having with the ey drops (although naturally they feel a bit better today!). They are going to speak to the consultant and get back to me.

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

Oh your poor wee cat, they are brave wee creatures.That's great you got through to clinic at last hopefully he'll get back to you soon then. It is typical that they aren't as bad today but it's better you speak to him anyway. Have you any idea how long the waiting list is for your cataract op?I hope you are a priority rather than routine .

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

Hi. As you say cats are very brave. No idea how long I will have to wait for the cataract op. Would have thought as I also now have glaucoma that it would hopefully be sooner rather than later! To be honest I could have had them done in August 2019 but as I have bad astigmatisms was persuaded by the clinic I attended to see if I could have toric lenses to correct this. But of course that meant going privately. I was told it would be around £3000 for both eyes and was seriously thinking about having it done. Then the consultant said there was a risk the toric lenses could move in my eyes, which I did not fancy. Also on top of the £3000 the hospital fees were going to be another £3000 or more. So gave up on this idea. I then went back to the clinic to tell them that I was not going to go privately after all and was told another appointment would be made. I waited a few months and didn't hear anything. So early 2020 I rang them and was told that I had been removed from the waiting list as I had had them done privately. When I told them it wasn't the case, I was informed that I would have to be referred again by my optician. Then of course Covid happened and I didn't fancy going to my opticians as my husband was on the vulnerable list. Then got a letter in April this year to say I was back on the waiting list, finally getting an appointment to recheck my eyes on June 15th. The rest you know! If this was written up as a fictional saga one wouldn't believe it!

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

Oh my goodness what a total carry on indeed, a complete catalogue of disasters . Everything seems to be such a struggle when it comes to eyes and covid has obviously made it so much worse. I actually did go down the private route initially for my glaucoma treatment as even seeing a consultant on NHS was going take up to 9 months. I was diagnosed late and already had lost vision in both eyes so I wasn't risking losing more sight. My private consultant got me onto his NHS list in December and gave me a trab in Feb so going private definitely worked out well for me.

With luck cataract and glaucoma combined will push you up the waiting list quicker.

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

Sounds like we have both had 'fun'. I haven't been told how much sight I have lost, so do not know whether it has been caught early or not. But I haven't noticed anything different with my eye sight really. Seem to see as well asI ever did.

[Hidden in reply to Engima]

"Fun" I'm sure we could both do without. Personally I would rather not have known how much sight I have lost and my consultant always says moderate in right and mild in left which I was content with. I have however seen my field test results and it was clear how much I had lost. Tbh I actually don't really think about it and I am not remotely aware of it which is good. I assume you've not heard back from consultant or hospital ?

[Engima in reply to Hidden]

Like you do not really want to find out how much sight has been lost. Especially if one cannot notice any loss. I finally had to leave messages all over the place and someone finally got back to me yesterday. But then said they would see what the consultant had to say and get back to me. But they didn't do so yesterday, so if haven't heard by Thursday will have to go through it all again! I understand from various people that one shouldn't sleep on one's dide (which I do) as the eyes could scrunch into the pillow and make the pressures worse. I start off on my back but am always on my side when I wake up numerous times during the night! Thought about some form of eye protectors but don't know if they would be too uncomfortable. Will have to do some research. Also thinking of trying an Omega 3 supplement as I am basically a veggie and only eat fish about once a fortnight.

[Wonderfullifeandmore in reply to Engima]

hi Enigma, I had my eyes lasered in January it was absolutely fine. Nothing to be afraid of.