Anyone else diagnosed young?

[Ginger96]

Hello! I am 24 and was diagnosed with glaucoma this spring after being monitored for about 5 years for high eye pressures. Has anyone else been diagnosed young? I’m very worried about what this means for me and my vision. I know doctors say that it is rare to loose your sight with glaucoma, but the fact that I could have this disease for potentially a very long time worries me. Thank you!

[Jennymary]

Yes, I was born with glaucoma, 4th generation in the family. I lost my gran just before my 21st birthday and at that point I was already using drops, earlier this year I had my 59th birthday. Due to an unfortunate series of events I lost all the vision in my left eye and was registered blind 4 years ago, but that hasn't got in the way if my life, I'm still working, my mum lived all her life with one good eye and it didn't get in the way of her life

[Ginger96 in reply to Jennymary]

I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost vision in your left eye, but it’s fantastic to hear that this hasn’t got in the way of anything and you are living a happy and fulfilled life! Thank you!

[prassud]

Hi Ginger96,

I was diagnosed with glaucoma on both of my eyes around same age as yours, it was scary at start and I was depressed, I screwed up my job not becoz of glaucoma, but because of fear and depression, took me one year to come out of it, hard lessons learnt are life moves on , got in to new job now, changed my life style, I am still working.

Believe in yourself, and your skills, and move on. Noone else can, Because it's your life,

When ever you feel depressed, look into people, who are struggling more than you,

Be thankful for what you have

[Ginger96 in reply to prassud]

Thank you for this! I’m glad that you are in a much better place now. I felt incredibly overwhelmed at first but I agree that we all need to have as positive of an outlook as possible. There are people in far worse situations. Thank you!

[Kiara-52]

Hi Ginger, sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with this at such a young age, I also have been diagnosed with Glaucoma just a few months ago (although I am 52) Its a scary prospect but I think we all have to put our faith in the system and know that now we have a diagnosis, treatment can start and it will hopefully enable us all to live with this condition and still have a full life. After the initial panic I have managed to carry on as normal and can say honestly that it has not changed my life yet at all. Try not to worry follow your eye doctors advise and I wish you well on your Glaucoma journey. take care x

[Decorator123]

Am 44 not sure if that class me as young . Was on the monitoring for 3 years . Wish they had give me a leaflet with these type of website and support groups. it only now that I’ve been diagnosed with Glaucoma . My mum was born blind in one eyes never seem to bother her

[Vich81]

Hello. Firstly, you are very lucky they were monitoring you rather than just finding out once the damage had been done. I was just 23 when I was diagnosed, out of the blue and it wasn’t in my family. I have a couple of theories as to how I developed it but none proven. I’ve just turned 40 this month and I’m so grateful as I still have decent vision. I still work and drive and I had a child. I don’t let myself go there with worrying and wondering what quality of vision I will have in another 17 years. If I did, I think I would never function. The main piece of advice I like to give is take it seriously in that you never miss a drop or an appointment. I didn’t realise in the early days what missing eye drops could do and I so wish someone had told me back then. I’ve been through it with my eyes but main thing is I can still see and I’m very lucky

[Hidden]

Hi Ginger96 I’m not as young as you but was diagnosed last December at age 52 remember feeling sick at the diagnosis. Your so young but I’m sure everything will be fine like everyone says follow doctors advice and keep to your medication. This forum is so helpful and the people are absolutely lovely I don’t know what I would do without all the lovely people on here. Even when I’m being a negative Nancy there are friends on here that even though they are going through this themselves still have time to pick me up and I’m truly grateful to them. Are you on drops are you being offered SLT laser what type of gluacoma do you have if you don’t mind me asking

[Eyehelp5]

Hi Ginger96, I was diagnosed 3 years ago aged 33 so although a good few years older than you, I equally share your worries regarding the longer stretch ahead. Mine was very much out the blue picked up at a routine eye test and no family history so it came as quite a shock. I’ve had a cocktail of drops so far which have brought the pressure down super low yet in my bad eye the damage is still occurring and seem to be in a pattern of haemorrhages. My coping strategy is just to be as healthy as I can - I eat clean and do a lot of exercise (gym bunny) - might not make a difference in the grand scheme of things but certainly helps me mentally knowing I’m looking after my body the best I can. Sending love and good thoughts.

[Peg99]

Hi Ginger

I was diagnosed at 29, out of the blue, and yes, it knocked me for six.

As you will find out, everybody's case is different and with me, my glaucoma was in both eyes and was very advanced at the start: I had just 5% site left; no peripheral vision and the 5% being just central vision.

The good news is that that degree of vision has remained the same over the 36 years I have had the condition. Many drops, diamox tablets, surgery and learning as much about the condition as I could have, I believe, achieved that.

Of course I have had to make changes to my life. I was stopped from driving immediately, I have to take extra care when moving around, especially outside because of my restricted field of vision, but I can still see and lead a virtually normal life.

I agree with what has been said in other posts; keeping healthy, eating well and keeping a positive attitude are very helpful. Taking the meds and learning as much about your particular glaucoma is also vital. IGA is a great source of info and the folk on the helpline are very helpful too.

To sum up, yes a diagnosis at such a young age is frightening and overwhelming too and I am sorry you are having to go through this. I am now 65 and my glaucoma has been successfully controlled for the past 36 years so I can see as much now as I could then. A success story Ginger, for you to draw on through this difficult time.

A final thought. I don't know your circumstances, and I'm sure many would disagree with me but, I found it invaluable to see a glaucoma specialist consultant privately to discuss my condition (my NHS consultant referred me together with full details of my case). This not only ensured that I saw an experienced specialist so had plenty of time for questions. but I also had plenty of time for answers that were personal to my case. I also got a second opinion but that's just me. 😀.

Good luck Ginger and if I can be of any help to you send me a PM.

[Susiepamela]

Hi I was diagnosed at 36 years old with pigment dispersion Glaucoma and was told I was young for the diagnosis.

I am now 58 years old, eye pressure pretty good but last test in Jan showed some deteoriation in fields so it's now a worry and I am due to be retested in 4 months but it's taken 22 years to get to this stage and that gives you plenty of time to develop something else to trust it. Stay positive 👍

[valfrance]

hi ginger i am 65 had high pressure first for 2 years, then it became glaucoma. i have open angle glaucoma, and i got slt. it works better on a virgin eye. i only take 1 drop a day monoprost. if you can get slt , please get it. and do not take drops with preservative in them, there are alternatives. slt is not a permanent solutions for lowering your pressure however it may give you a few years without taking too many drops. i am sure you are in shock, i was, and acceptance takes time. do not miss your drops and put them in properly, ask questions, keep records of your pressure each time you get a test. do not be afraid to question any consultant, i changed my twice till i found the right consultant who truly cared and had time for me. the others gave me anxiety and feeling hopeless. i just think they see so many people that they do not realise that this is a disease and every case is different, its not a textbook disease, they just dont know what can happen to you. i took 2 different drops and they were horrible and gave me anxiety, they said it was all in my head. i had never suffered with anxiety in my life. if your not happy with a nhs consultant its worth paying for a private one just till your settled in your mind. i live in france and you can choose your consultant. take care valfrance

[pinks223]

I was also diagnosed young 32 ,8 years on I’ve had 2 trabs It seems pressure is lower. my right eye has very severe glaucoma and my specialist can’t say if I’ll loose that eye or not I’ve recently had left eye trab last week and waiting on recovery from that procedure. It’s a hard road that’s all I can say My anxiety is thru the roof it’s very scary and expensive to treat have surgery ect ect but hopefully in the end it’s all successful and there is hope .