Can secondary glaucoma worsen even though the eye pressure remains at a normal level?

[Cockerspadge]

Hi everyone

This is my first post & would greatly appreciate your help & advice, please be gentle with me, my apologies if this question has been asked before.

My background: Right eye lazy since childhood

Left eye: Chronic Uveitis, Cystoid Macular Edema, Pars Plana/Vitrectomy, Cataract surgery, Secondary Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration.

I was diagnosed with Secondary Glaucoma in February 2018 following a visual field test. A Zen Stent implant procedure was performed & apart from a few niggles, it was successful & reduced the IOP. Ten months later (October 2018) at a Glaucoma check up, another visual fields test was performed! & since then I haven’t had any further follow ups with the Glaucoma team.

I have periodic check ups whereby my pressure is checked & OCTs performed. My pressure has remained within normal parameters & the specialist has never mentioned any optic nerve changes.

Just before Xmas, I thought my peripheral vision was suffering & booked a sight test at Specsavers, requesting a visual fields test. I also paid for an OCT. The optician was concerned about the scan result & asked when I’d last had a visual fields test. I hadn’t had one for three years. Is this normal?

The optician decided not perform a visual fields test, instead he requested an urgent referral to the hospital, requesting I be seen within two weeks. Having not heard anything after a fortnight, I rang the hospital to be told the referral had been received but the doctor doesn’t think my condition is urgent.

Am I worrying unnecessarily?

[Anonoms]

My husband was in a similar position. Optometrist identified signifcant loss of visual field in one eye. He waited 3 months for an appointment with his consultants team. I think that was too long for a request made by another health professional for an existing patient. He had further surgery within days of getting that appointment.

[Cockerspadge in reply to Anonoms]

Thank you so much for your reply Anonoms. Three months is such a long time to wait, glad your husband got the surgery he needed.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello. It might be worth calling the eye secretary if you havent done so already with your concerns, explaining that you have noticed your peripheral vision has worsened since your last appointment and the concern shown by your optometrist. Visual field tests should be done every 1 -2 years but the OCT would show any significant changes too as it is sometimes used instead of the VFT. Saying this, your referral was still classed as urgent so give them a call. Sometimes you have to dig your heels in.

[muddledme]

Hello Cockerspadge,

Hopefully as suggested the consultant's secretary will be helpful. When I was worried about something and the secretary did not understand the significance of the problem she let me speak to the specialist eye nurse who managed to get me seen fairly quickly. Almost like the triage system in A&E. Do stress the optitian's concerns.

Good luck

[Cockerspadge in reply to muddledme]

Hi muddledme. Love your user name 😀. I believe it was the eye specialist nurse who was to be asked to look into my referral & ring me back but I haven’t heard anything. I will ring the secretary tomorrow, hopefully she will be able to expedite an appointment. Thanks for your response, it is much appreciated.