SLT UPDATE 21 MONTHS LATER

[valfrance]

Hi everyone just keeping you all posted on SLT treatment

it is now 21 months and just had another pressure test (i get one every 3 months), it is 17 in both eyes. I am hoping it will continue for a while even though it says 2-3 years slt lasts.

i have open angled glaucoma diagnosed 2 years ago, received slt 2 months after diagnosis

take 1 drop monoprost nightly was also taking this for 2 years prior to my glaucoma diagnosis this was for high pressure.

previous pressure reached 28, once i got to this level I got damage in my eye and it became glaucoma

tried azarga and alphagan could not continue, side effects

offered slt, best on a virgin eye before you start using long term continual beta blockers etc.

other diseases all immune related

under active thyroid, psoriasis, osteoporosis,

i have had people contact me on this site as many also have thyroid problems who have glaucoma

take care

val france

[AlfredV]

Interesting that you mention thyroid and glaucoma. I developed glaucoma after having been severely poisoned by antibiotics (late onset glaucoma is listed as a potential side effect of ciprofloxacin). I have also had thyroid issues since then. I mainly have it under control, but if I let my diet slip or I allow myself to become too stressed, my thyroid starts playing up again and I have difficulty maintaining normal body temperature.

I wonder if for many people, there exists a relationship between these issues and having previously taken ciprofloxacin?

[valfrance in reply to AlfredV]

hi alfred, i took betnovate scalp lotion for my psoriasis for 32 years not knowing that steroids can bring on glaucoma. i had to stop using this when i was diagnosed. it is hell for me, i have tried every product imaginable for my scalp, i am now sleeping with icepacks on my head for it. i will not take steroids. it is your immune system and all linked i believe. i have an underactive thyroid, went untreated for about 3 years, this caused pressure in my eyes and bleary vision and osteoporosis. I had to get a hip replacement.

your thyroid is so important. now on levothyroxine for the last 3 years.

read this link between thyroid disease and glaucoma

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

thanks valerie

[Astilbe in reply to valfrance]

Hi Valfrance, sorry to hear about your scalp psoriasis. I get that really badly as well. The most effective treatment I have used is Selsun shampoo, it has selenium sulfide in it. I have used that for over 30 years. I rub a moisturising lotion/cream thickly into my scalp and leave it overnight, that gets rid of a lot of scaling. Then shampoo, leaving the selsun on for 10 minutes.

Jason shampoo for dandruff also helps relieve the itching but not as good as selsun. When I saw a dermatologist 30 odd years ago the only thing they gave me was steroids and I wouldn't use them. I know it is horrible with the intense itching and it is very hard not to scratch. You are right that it is the immune system to blame for psoriasis, it causes a faster turnover of cells than normal, hence the build up of immature cells on the skin.

I think that my glaucoma has a heriditary link since my Dad had it. I was led to believe that the heriditary link was the entire cause of glaucoma but it is interesting that other things can have an impact as well. So many things are connected, especially side effects of different drugs.

Thank you for the link to the article and I hope that you get some relief for your psoriasis soon.

[valfrance in reply to Astilbe]

hi Astilbe, i will take your advice and get this product. if someone said stand on your head for an hour I would just to relieve the itching. I know its an auto immune disease and i take natural supplements for this also. I have just started nicotinamide b3 as good results on the glaucoma site. thanks valerie

[Dumyat26]

Interesting. I was diagnosed with Underactive Thyroid 25 years ago and have been on Thyroxine since. was diagnosed with Open Angle Glaucoma 12 years ago by which time it was fairly advanced. F of V 30% loss in one eye, 10% loss in other. It was my own fault as had not seen an optician for years until then. Have been on various eyedrops and had SLT twice. F of V loss has not worsened since first tests.

I asked my consultant early on about possible links with Underactive Thyroid but he has always said there is no definitive evidence. Having read the article on the link below (USA research) I must say I am not convinced that the stats quoted show a strong enough link to be definitive.

[valfrance]

hi Dumy, we all do this ignore our health. I did the same thing with my thyroid as i was working and too busy... and probably did not want to know. i have read a great deal since my diagnosis and it would appear there is a definite link between thyroid, and steroids. thanks valfrance

[muddledme]

Hello valfrance,

Thank you for the interesting article about Thyroid disease and Glaucoma.

Several years ago I also had an underactive thyroid but the treatment caused constant headaches despite trying several different medicines.

As my thyroid levels vary so much and luckily tend to be mainly borderline , then I just keep an eye on them with regular blood tests.

20 years ago I developed drug induced Lupus due to Oxytetracycline, this took 6 years to diagnose and as I had never been really ill before it was very worrying.

Thyroid disease and Glaucoma are both fairly common so I supose it would need a large scale research project to make the medics aware. Perhaps eventually opticians would alert patients with either condition.

As glaucoma is often inherited then so is thyroid disease ( both are in my close family members.)

Do hope you find help with the psoriasis.

Best wishes

[valfrance]

hi muddledme, yes the thyroid is linked to glaucoma. my sister has thyroid eye disease also. i am on medication levothyroxine however a great deal of weight gain cannot seem to control it. my psoriasis is awful however trying different recommendations from caring people on this site. have started taking the nicotinamide pure powder. i also have tinnitus and i am hoping this will help this also. take care valfrance