Is vision loss always permanent?

[Dodie68]

Is it always the case that any vision loss due to glaucoma is permanent? My son (diagnosed with juvenile open angle last year, now aged 20) has a grey blurred area in the centre of one of his eyes and a trip to A&E showed his perssure to be 63 in the affected eye and 50 in the other. Following an emergency appt today, with the pressure still at 54 despite 3 tablets, he has been prescribed the tablets 3 times daily alongside 3 different drops and will be seen by the end of the week for pressure tests again. He is awaiting a trab operation which they said they will try to hurry along but is the damage already done and will it get worse with pressures that high?

[Jon1988]

Sorry to hear about your son, hopefully they bring his pressure down soon and get him sorted. I have some damage from glaucoma and unfortunately it is permanent. Your eyes adapt though and he might not even notice when both eyes are open, I have a central defect as well and aren’t away of it unless I close my other eye.

[Dodie68 in reply to Jon1988]

Thank you Jon1988. I think we're all a bit shocked and focusing on what he's lost rather than how he can live with it but I'll share that with him. I've been encouraging him to use this sight and I hope he will eventually.

[Jon1988 in reply to Dodie68]

I’m 34 and was diagnosed this year as well, if he ever wants a chat tell him to reach out. All the best. Jon

[Dodie68 in reply to Jon1988]

Thank you.

[Toby_from_London]

Hi Dodie68,

As Jon says unfortunately yes, any damage is permanent.

I was diagnosed last year having not realised I had lost sight in one eye, but a shunt insertion in the other stabilised my pressure and so far there has been no further sight loss.

Although dangerously high IOP is different for everyone I would maybe book an appointment with Specsavers to have his eye pressure tested later in the week, as I know from personal experience unfortunately those tables are not always successful in reducing pressure.

However please don’t worry about the trab surgery as they can be very effective.

Wishing you both the best of luck.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hello Dodie68

Unfortunately, yes, any vision lost due to glaucoma is permanent. I don't want to give you false hope, but his raised pressure once stabilised may clear his vision a little. It will be hard to tell until this has happened.

You have had great support from everyone here, so keep talking to us all. Support for your son has also been offered and he may in the future, benefit from contacting other people living with similar experiences.

All the best to you and your son.