Vision deterioration

[KBIOW]

Good morning all,

I haven’t posted for a while which seems a good thing!

I am waiting for my next check up at the hospital, my last appointment was the 16th Feb my next follow up is due in November. I now have high OP and this is controlled by Cosopt Preservstive Free drops…. this all came about after having the laser surgery for narrow angles and since then my eye pressure has been high.

I had an eye test back in January and pressures were ok, then my hospital visit in Feb, and have subsequently had them checked at my local opticians a few times since and they have been around 16, the last reading this week 17 and 19.

I was a bit late collecting my new glasses got them in August for reading etc but they were not to far adrift from my previous prescription. Over the past few weeks I have noticed in the morning my eye sight seems slower to get going. (My other half says his is the same).

Before I could get by ish with out my glassses for reading on my iPad… but have had to wear glasses for a while for book reading and especially food packaging….I really have to wear them now for reading on my iPad and phone etc. I am currently going through the perimenopause and understand this can affect vision too. I just wondered if I should contact the hospital or whether this is just age as with my glasses on my iPad etc is as clear as anything.

Many thanks

Katy

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello.

If you feel your vision has changed significantly and constant, since your last appointment, I would recommend you contacting the eye secretary to make the consultant aware.

If you find your vision fluctuates throughout the day, then it is probably down to dry eyes. If this is the case, then dry eye drops will help. Use them as often as you need too. They will not interfere with your glaucoma in any way. Just make sure that you don't use then around the time you take your glaucoma eyedrops. Leave at least 20 minutes either side.

[KBIOW in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you, have contacted the hospital and advised of query, and now have an appointment in 1 months time.

Month earlier than was due.

Katy

[Sorshup]

Whatever the reason for your observations, the simple fact of having a change in your vision means that you are entitled to an NHS sight test at your optometrist. This will establish the likely reason, be it simply refractive (a normal change for your age, perhaps?) or medical. The doc you see at the hospital will be pleased that you have taken this route first.

[KBIOW in reply to Sorshup]

thank you for your reply.

I did have an eye test in January…. Are you suggesting another test before my appointment t in October?

Thank you

[Sorshup in reply to KBIOW]

Re-reading your message (trying to concentrate whilst watcing Chuck Berry on BC 2 - classic!) you ppear to be saying that your new specs are fine but you are now less able to do close work without them. I regret that this is a common and quite normal observation as presbyopia develops. It is likely that if you have thought your distance vision to be fine that you are actually a little hypermetropic, which would explain yours and your partner's morning observations. (Ignoring the previous evening's alcohol....)So I doubt if there is a medical issue here and you could ignore my suggestion of a further sight test but I do think that to do that would settle the simple focussing difficulty questions for you and mean that when you attend the hospital you can present the doctor with definite information. Roll over Beethoven.

[Sorshup in reply to KBIOW]

Just to add to my reply, I thought that if you were not familiar with the implications of hypermetropia an internet search would help but checking that myself I find it completely useless. It means imply that you have a basic out of focus state which has, lifle long, required you to make the adjustment normally required for objects nearer than far away (e.g. a couple of metres away) even for distant objects. So as your ability to do so (presbyopia) naturally declines with age you may need some help in the form of a distance spectacle (or contact lens) correction. Oh, its so awful growing old.

[KBIOW in reply to Sorshup]

Thank you for your replies I really appreciate it.

Yes I guess I have been hoping I didn’t need the glasses so much…but realise I really do. I have had a couple of stressful weeks looking after an elderly neighbour who has no family…. The bags under my eyes nearly reached my lips…I looked so terrible, these are better this week.

That’s why I got my eye pressures checked last week at the opticians and the pressures were ok.

I think I have just been concerned as my last appointment at the hospital was February and the next appointment is due in 9months…which is what the consultant recommended, I now have an appointment in the middle of October a month earlier than it was due. I did have the scans at the opticians in Jan and at the hospital in Feb and the hospital said my optic discs were healthy. The opticians actually said my eye sight had improved…

I think as it’s been a while since my visit, with the stress, I am also a worrier I think all together I’ve just become really concerned about it all again when I’m occupied I don’t even think about it or notice it. Perhaps it is just age but I worry about it all as I think I don’t want to be paranoid but I also don’t want to leave things either but I don’t like it!

Perhaps wine might help!!

Thanks again I do appreciate your time replying.

Katy

[Vich81]

I wonder if anyone has mentioned you may have cataracts? This could also account for feeling like your vision improves throughout the morning. Whilst you wait for your hospital appointment, you can go to your opticians and get them to have a look over things, test your pressure and if cataracts is present, they should be able to spot that. Might put your mind at rest in meantime

[KBIOW in reply to Vich81]

Thank you for your reply I really appreciate it.

I think I have just been concerned as I haven’t been to the hospital since February which is what the consultant recommended, I now have an appointment middle of October a month earlier than it was due. I did have the scans at the opticians and at the hospital in Feb and the hospital said my optic discs were healthy so I would have thought the cataracts would have shown up on these or am I wrong?

The opticians actually said my eyes had improved… I think as it’s been a while since my visit, with the stress, I am also a worrier I think all together I’ve just come really concerned about it all again. Perhaps it is just age but I worry about it all as I think I don’t want to be paranoid but I also don’t want to leave things either but I don’t like it!

Thanks again

Katy

[Anonoms]

when I got to around that age I needed glasses for distance, close up and computer work. It could be that also. It came on really quite quickly.