Glaucoma - follow up's with Hospital eye clinic

[Massieg]

Hi

I was diagnosed Moderate primary open angle glaucoma on my Right Eye just over a year ago.

I currently use Latanoprost drops at night on both eyes and Tiopex drop on my right eye in the morning. I am currently on the waiting list at the Edinburgh eye pavilion for SLT lazer treatment on my right eye but the waiting time was 72 weeks when i was first put on list now down to 42 weeks.

I asked if i will get a follow-up consultation to check if there has been any progression in my Glaucoma but they said no because i was on the waiting list for SLT.

This would mean it would be more than 2 years, since i was diagnosed with Glaucoma before i would get checked again.

The question I have is what should be my expectations be on follow up check up's on my Glaucoma.

I am thinking it should be at least once a year??

What is everyone else's experience ?

[Beecalmed]

Hi Massieg!

So if your glaucoma is controlled, does not show active signs of progression, your IOPs are being controlled by your eye drops and you are of low risk then might expect to be reassessed about every 1 yr to eighteen months (UK NICE guidelines). BUT it really depends on the details of your particular diagnosis and status.

I personally would contact your hospital and ask for the reasoning behind leaving you for 2 years. Sometimes if there’s been no sign of progression and you’re stable I guess then a longer interval may be deemed acceptable but I wouldn’t have thought more than 18 mths was ok and a 1 year check seems safer.

Meanwhile, if you are concerned that progression is being missed you could see your optician and ask them to do IOP checks, field tests and visual acuity to reassure you whilst you wait for a response from your hospital consultant. Some opticians do OCT tests too.

Good luck! I do hope you get clarification from your hospital!

[Longwalks3]

I would have thought that if your diagnosis was only a year ago and your glaucoma is moderate you should definitely be seen at least once a year. Do you know if there is any damage to your visual fields?

[Massieg in reply to Longwalks3]

Hi

yes there has been damage to my visual field on my right eye. I am not sure if there has been any progression in the damage now that I am using the drops but I would like to get this checked to find out. I am thinking that getting checked after a year of being diagnosed with glaucoma would be the norm.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

That doesn't sound right to me, that because you are on the waiting list for SLT, that you don't have a glaucoma clinic appointment during that time. I would definitely give another call to the eye secretary to explain that you will be without monitoring of your glaucoma for two years. I would also emphasise that if you hadn't been put on the waiting list, you would have been seen sooner. Ask for this to be checked with your eye specialist. They may not be aware of the lengthy waiting time.

[Massieg in reply to Helen_GlaucomaUK]

thanks for your reply . I will get back on to the phone with them and try and chase and get another checkup.