Normal Tension Glaucoma

[Welshsailor]

hi,

just interested to find out how many people have Normal Tension Glaucoma and at what pressures before and after treatment?

thanks

[NewSh0e]

hi there, by the time I found out I had glaucoma, I already had significant damage in one eye. My pressure has never been above 22 (as far as I know). The private consultant I’ve been seeing for the last six months is the first person in the 12 years I’ve had it to talk specifically about NTG, and his goal is to get the pressures down to 10. I’m on a new combo of Ganfort and Simbrinza and last visit, pressures were 11 and 10.5. Hope that helps!

[Welshsailor in reply to NewSh0e]

brilliant thank you for that.

Have you had no surgery?

I take it you were on 1 drop to start with?

[NewSh0e in reply to Welshsailor]

No surgery so far and yes I was on Latanoprost for years via the NHS and the pressures were controlled, albeit above 10. But then the pandemic happened, my annual check kept being pushed and it ended up being two years before I was seen, my which time it had worsened (now in both eyes).

It was then I decided to go private and was told about the NTG. The current medication is the “nuclear option” but I’m tolerating it pretty well, bar having to be very careful with alcohol consumption.

[Welshsailor in reply to NewSh0e]

that’s good news.

I don’t have any glaucoma in my right eye but I have 2 small areas in my left eye that are beginning to decrease a tiny bit on sensitivity on the VF test. My pressure before treatment was 21. With Ganfort drops 8am everyday they reduced to 15. Because it getting ever so slightly worse I’ve been added onto brinzolamide as well which I take at 9am and 9pm every day

[Welshsailor in reply to NewSh0e]

what does alcohol do then?

[NewSh0e in reply to Welshsailor]

with the Simbrinza, which is a combination of brinzolomide and Brimonidine, the advice is to avoid alcohol. However my consultant said it just amplifies the effects so one glass will feel like two etc. Some people on here report not being able to drink at all though so it depends on the person I guess.

[Welshsailor in reply to NewSh0e]

you mentioned ‘nuclear option’ early on. What do you mean by that?

Also when do you take your drops?

[praying4cure]

I have normal/low tension glaucoma, and I, too, had already had significant damage by the time mine was discovered. Highest pressure recorded was 17. I continued to progress despite using a variety of eye drops 4x/day, SLT laser procedures, and cataract surgeries with iStents. I finally had trabeculectomies with ExPress shunts in spring of '21 and '22. My pressures are now holding steady at 5 in both eyes. There has been no further progression, and I'm tolerating that low pressure with no negative effects. The relief I feel can't be overstated.

[Welshsailor in reply to praying4cure]

thank you for your story. How old was you when you were discovered? How much vision had you lost? In both eyes?

[Hidden]

Hello, I was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Glaucoma in both eyes a year after the optician referred me due to a bleed on my optic nerve. I was in my early 60's. My IOP were 18 in right eye & 20 in left at diagnosis and reduced to 14 and 13, using Latanoprost in both eyes at night. I failed the DVLA VF test at Specsavers so my licence was revoked, but bought rimless glasses, paid to practise the test and got fed up with walking everywhere and not being able to fulfil my job role . Through sheer determination and a different Specsavers branch, I passed the DVLA VF test, so appealed and regained a 5 year Medical Licence.

[Welshsailor in reply to Hidden]

are your pressures ok on drops?

[Hidden in reply to Welshsailor]

Appear to be, but I'm not offered an opportunity to discuss the results. Disappointed that following most recent monitoring, the Ophthalmology Dept. had no intention of sending a copy of the report. The appointments are chaotic because the staff are run off their feet. I had to keep checking with the staff about the need to remove my glasses or not.

[mrswaffle in reply to Hidden]

I would just like to say “well done” to you for your calm perseverance-your story is an inspiration!

[salla22]

I have always had a around 12 pressure.It took me a year to get an appointment with glaucoma in one eye. Wonder how much damage that did. Anyway one drop a day and pressure 10 last time. Oip is normal looking at the tables.

[Welshsailor in reply to salla22]

is your consultant happy with a pressure of 10? Is your Glaucoma stable

[MataDAY]

hello i am newly diagnosed and have been on Latanoprost a drop a night. Does anyone know what and how home pressures are TANO METERS monitors with mention on the forum but my SpecSavers optometrist say that there is no such thing.

Also, for those whose Glaucomas are not related to elevated pressures, such as mine, what advice do you have to keep an eye on?

Thank you

[Crafty-gran]

just been diagnosed with NTG

have nerve damage and significant peripheral vision loss in left eye , some small areas in right eye.

IOP have been 16/17 , but at last visit a month ago were 20 both eyes.

Have been started on saflutan 1drop daily. Due to see consultant in a few weeks so hoping the pressures will have come down.

Just starting on this journey and quite anxious about the future.

I keep getting told :it doesn’t look very healthy:, don’t ever get an explanation about what they mean and the impact to my sight

I have a list of questions this time I go

Just had my test for DVLA so hoping I hear something soon.

Do you always get put on a medical license( ie it has to be renewed 3yearly

Thank you for the support and information from this forum . I have snd still am learning so much