headache, throbbing, eye pain & rolling

[softekcom]

Hello All,

I am new here. I would appreciate advice please. Thanks for reading this.

I was diagnosed with high eye pressure/glaucoma on 18/03/2022. My eye pressure was high then because I was on a high dose of Prednisolone. I thought it was steroid induced pressure and it would go away when my dosage reduced. My eye pressure returned to normal levels in June and i was told that if there was no deterioration at the next check, I could come off the two eyedrops (Dorzolamide, Latanoprost). However, at my check in Jan this year, though the eye pressure was normal there was deterioration in the glaucoma.

For the last 2 weeks of Jan I suddenly got really bad headaches (forehead, temple, back), pain above and around the eyes. I was nauseous, my eyes felt like they wouldn't focus, kept rolling. My head throbbed and felt incredibly 'full', heavy and hot. Soon after that my left eye began stinging and it felt like my sight had deteriorated. No redness in either eye.

I went into A&E and they said the headache was probably due to the glaucoma and sent me home.

The severity of the headache subsided by 6th Feb. It's still there, but much milder. I am up an about, not sitting stunned and knocked out like before. When it was severe, it felt sinister and alarming. I cannot sleep on either side as pressure on my temples makes the eye on that side hurt.

My left eye still stings and vision feels 'faded', like I need to change my prescription glasses.

Is this headache because of glaucoma? Or could it be a cluster headache? Or something else? I have had migraines before - this wasn't migraine.

[muddledme]

Hello softekcom,

Sorry to hear about your head pains. Could you contact your local hospital eye clinic and relate your experience ?

If you know the name of your consultant then you could phone and contact the secretary who will often be helpful and let the consultant know of your problems.

Otherwise you could always phone A&E and explain your worries . Sometimes there are opticians with a special interest in Glaucoma who may also help.

The Glaucoma UK Helpline is very good ; 01233 64 81 70 weekdays.

Do hope you get advice, sometimes these days it is not so easy, so do please persevere.

Best wishes

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

If you were told at the A & E that the pain was caused by your glaucoma and you were experiencing severe pain and a change in your vision, they should have measured your eye pressure. If it was high then treatment should have been offered until the pressure decreased.

My concern is the change in your vision. You need to call the eye secretary today explaining the situation, especially if you are not due to be seen for a while. If you can't get through, please go back to the A & E.

[softekcom in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you for your kind reply. I was seen by an ophthalmologist yesterday at very short notice, for which i am very grateful. Though my vision feels 'faded' in my left eye, rainbow ring around lights, my eye pressure is normal. And there is no change in the glaucoma since my last check in Jan. The consultant said it couldn't have been GCA as the inflammation markers in my blood test were normal. The stinging is caused by dryness and I have been prescribed another eyedrop. I have been referred back to the GP for the headache, which has now got better anyway. No idea what that was.

[RomeItaly54 in reply to softekcom]

Great news. Anxiety is often the cause, and reassurance is needed. Glad you received reassuring news from the ophthalmologist.

[RomeItaly54]

Hello softekcom, agree with muddledme, seek advice of consultant. It is very scary when first diagnosed with Glaucoma, and you need to insist on a follow-up appointment. Be very firm. You need to know if your headaches are causing your glaucoma or the glaucoma causing the headaches. You can be treated so persevere and insist on an appointment. Wishing you all the very best.

[softekcom]

Thought I'd post this here so it is part of the thread.

My headache is a LOT better. But significant blurriness in the left eye. I opened an Excel sheet on the laptop. The lines look like they have shadows. I am going to take myself in to any opticians that will see me.