Newly Diagnosed

[cosynook]

Hi Everyone

Was diagnosed with glaucoma and cataract in right eye at normal 2 year opticians visit and feel I have been thrust into a tumble drier. Don't fully undestand all the terminology but will do my best. I had no symptoms and a full field scan(?) pick up no sign of peripheral loss. Going back in two weeks for drops and a clearer look behind the eye. I would like help please with knowing what questions to ask the optician. I have limited vision in my left eye - wish it could have been that one with the problem but all in all my current vision is good.

Thank you all.

[Broken_Eye]

Tumble dryer is a good analogy. It took me quite some time to 'settle' to the notion that an aspect of my health had changed. Glaucoma UK has many leaflets - many free although a donation would be kind - one is a booklet about having appointments and beginning to understand your personal type of glaucoma. See glaucoma.uk/product/my-pers... and glaucoma.uk/product/glaucom... (Glaucoma is one word covering many forms of condition). I dont want to add concern while you are in the tumble dryer - if you are a driver in the UK then check the leaflet glaucoma.uk/product/glaucom...

[Wales99]

Hello and Welcome to the forum. As Broken_Eye has said, Glaucoma UK have a lot of great information. When I was first diagnosed (a year ago now) I was in shock. I think I cried for about 3 days afterwards. Glaucoma UK have some really good videos on their site as well including one called Glaucoma for the newly diagnosed which I found very helpful. Good luck on your journey and stay on this forum, you will get a lot of support on here. 😊.

[Fanen]

Hi cosynook,The best way to live with Glaucoma is to believe nothing is wrong with your eyes.

Take your drugs as described and pray

[Hidden]

I'm not clear from your message...have you only seen an optician or did the optician refer you to the ophthalmologist at the eye hospital?

[Sufitzy]

Welcome to the platform. Sorry you have needed to join us but it’s a really supportive group. When I joined the first thing I did was call glaucoma uk and talked it through with them . They we amazingly helpful and expert . At the appointment my tip . Take someone with you! Write a few questions on paper and take with you. And get your friend to write down the answers. , ask what your pressures are and what normal range should be, what’s the treatment and what’s the side affects, who to call if you are worried about any symptoms.

Su x

[Spanieldoglover]

Hi cosynook, sorry you have needed to join us, but this is a great supportive forum and it’s good that you have found it so soon. I too have only recently been diagnosed after my optician found cataracts and have learnt so much from everyone on here.

As lots have suggested, it’s worth speaking to Glaucoma Uk as they are so helpful. You will need a referral to an ophthalmologist so you may want to speak to your optician about what is happening there or your doctor. But I understand your head is all over the place at the moment.

Good luck and do use the forum for support when you need it.

[cosynook]

Thank you all for your supportive comments. Going back to opticians 2nd December for drops and a better look and then referral I presume. In the meantime will bury my head in the sand and pretend it's not happening 😀😀

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello Cosynook. You mention Opticians but do you mean the ophthalmologist? When you go back in 2 weeks time, they would normally dilate the eye so they can have a good look at the back of your eye. It may be difficult to do this if you have a cataract as the lens will be cloudy but this will very much depend on how advanced the cataract is. You may be a glaucoma suspect , which means that the specialist is not 100% sure it is glaucoma. This could be because you have a tilted disc or maybe even physiological cupping which means the optic nerve may look as though there is damage but actually, there isnt. Its just the way it has developed. If glaucoma is diagnosed they will talk to you about the best form of treatment. It is normally eye drops but they may talk to you about laser which is being offered more to people who are newly diagnosed/early stage glaucoma. It would be a good idea to bring someone along with you too. If your eye is dilated it isnt recommended to drive or even take public transport, as it can take a few hours until your eye settles down. You can always give our helpline a call to discuss further. 01233 648170

[cosynook in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Good morning Trish and thank you for your detailed reply. To be honest I am confused with what is happening. After my optician visit and an OCT scan I was simply told that I had glaucoma and cataract and that I should return to see the Opthalmic Optician to have eye drops to enable him to get a better look. In an aside conversation between two members of staff I heard it said that they would push for a referral as the vision in my unafected eye is very poor. I did call in at the opticians for clarification but they were so busy I could not have a conversation. I do not have any symptoms of glaucoma or cataract and my vision is much as it has always been. The OCT I had two years prior was clear.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hi. I would check with your GP to see if a referral to the eye clinic has been sent to him. if not, get back to the opticians and chase it up and make sure the referral is sent to your GP.