Not sure I belong here

[Elastilass]

Not sure I belong here, as after 8 months waiting to be seen at the glaucoma clinic following a routine eye test that turned not so routine, I'm not sure if I have glaucoma or not. I was told in January that I had damage to the optic nerve in my right eye with matching visual field loss. The appointment was very rushed, end of the day and half the staff had left before I finished. I was taken in and saw the doctor who tested the eye pressures and had a look at my eyes, then sent me for visual field check, then just told that they pressures are fine (16 & 18) and that my visual field was fine (shows same missing area on right eye as in Jan) and sent away without chance to ask any questions etc. At the start of the appointment she said she would do Oct scan, but then decided she would do it next time, got to go back in 8 months. I have never had an otc, as I should have had one at my eye test in January, but as the machine was upstairs and I'm disabled they couldn't do it. So I'm left still wondering if I do have glaucoma, what had caused the damage to my eye as my pressures are fine, and if this will get any worse. I'm (only? ) 42. She didn't ask many questions, just do i have floaters, yes, and do I have headaches, yes that is what made me get my eyes tested in January as I had daily headaches for over 2 weeks, but then she blamed it on stress as I have kids! Just feel a bit lost and confused now.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello Elastilass.

You do not mention whether you are on eye drops or not.

If you have not been prescribed anything, it could be that you are a glaucoma suspect, where they can see a tilted disk or physiological cupping of the optic nerve not caused by glaucoma damage. This is just the way your eye has developed ,so a diagnosis of glaucoma is not easy.

Ocular Hypertension, where the eye pressure is high but no signs of glaucoma. If this is the case, you may just need to be monitored at the moment.

If they feel that treatment needs to start they will advise you. Sometimes a person is offered laser or eye drops as a preventative measure, if the consultant felt there was a risk of glaucoma developing.

The first thing you should do is call the eye secretary to find out if you have glaucoma or whether you are just being monitored as a glaucoma suspect, or have Ocular Hypertension.