A bit about me.. I’m 35 and was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes 3 years ago after experiencing rainbow shimmers around lights, headaches and blurred vision. I booked a check up at my local opticians for an eye test. I was then rushed to the emergency eye department and spent the next 5 hours being tested. The nurse kept on reassuring me ‘the opticians are always a bit over the top - you will be fine’. However, in the early hours of the morning the eye specialist diagnosed me with glaucoma in both eyes, noting that I had lost a severe amount of peripheral vision in my left eye and some in my right eye. They also noted my eye pressures were dangerously high and that I would continue to lose vision without urgent treatment.
I went through all the emotions of anger, embarrassment, worry and regret for not getting my eyes tested sooner. The following month I had trabulectomy surgery in my left eye. A few months later, I had the same surgery in my right eye. My right eye had always had better vision and was more focused than my left. Unfortunately the operation didn’t bring the pressure down enough and I required two lots of needling over the next few months. I have been on a number of drops over the past 3 years.
It’s now been two years and my most recent test indicated my eye pressures are now on the low side.
Anyway, the reason I have joined this forum is because I have noticed the appearance of my right eye has changed. The colour of my right eye is more dull and my eyelids are different sizes. I am so grateful for the treatment I have had and that it has essentially saved my vision, but I also now hate the way I look and even avoid being in photos because of this. It may sound like I’m being over the top or sensitive, but it has made me feel very insecure and worried. I never knew or was warned that this may happen.
Has anybody else noticed a visible difference in the appearance of their eyes following similar treatment? I talked to my ophthalmologist about this a year ago, showed him photos where difference in my eyes were obvious, but he denied seeing any changes. I have talked to people close around me and they too have noticed a change. It is particularly obvious when I smile. Obviously, nobody quite understands how worried I am and I hope that joining this forum will help me to feel a bit more understood. I don’t know anyone else with glaucoma other than my grandad who recently passed away. I never had the chance to talk about it with him. I feel lucky to now be amongst people who may understand or share my experiences.
Do you think my eyes will ever go back to ‘normal’? Could the eye colour be due to a cataract (I know this can be a follow on problem from trab surgery).
Any advice or guidance would be so very much appreciated.
Thank you
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Dabs2024
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sorry - me again. I should have also mentioned I have notified a significant change in my vision too. I was supposed to have a check up in October (6 month check up) but the hospital had issues with the booking system and did not book me in. I have a check up at the end of January. I am expecting to find my vision has deteriorated.
Glaucoma drops can change your eye colour. They can also increase the length of your lashes and possibly darken the area underneath your eye. And surgery can cause your lids to droop a little.
At 40, I started out with an unusual uveitis disease in my right that heterochromia and glaucoma resulted from. My brown eye started turning green. Over time and after multiple drops and surgeries my eyelid drooped and the eye became dark again - and now it's much darker than my left.
My consultant once mentioned the droop of my right eyelid and asked if it bothered me. I said it might have if I was younger but, at that point, late 40s I think, I honestly didn't care so long as I could see. Everyone is different though and I totally get where you're coming from as you're still only 35. Shame your consultant was dismissive. You might see someone else who is a bit more understanding in future? Or could you have a chat with your GP?
Someone I know with glaucoma recently had a procedure to correct the droop on one of her eyes on the NHS but she has limited vision so I'm not sure if they'd have offered otherwise.
I had a trab in my right eye 3 years ago which resulted in blurred vision and a cataract, in June of this year I was told I need a bleb revision urgently within 2 weeks, well I had it done on the 19th Dec last week, 6 months late despite phone calls to the clinic, when I went and saw the consultant a week before she asked why I had not had it done sooner I replied that we were told that we were on the waiting list, she is making an official complaint. Went for a post op check up on the day after, 20th, and was told the bleb is still leaking so got padded up again and now got to have more stitches put in tomorrow 3rd, then take 9 drops a day for a month and antibiotic ointment 5 times a day for a month, and was told this op I had done may make the trab, not work anymore, so will need that done again. But I am not going through all this again, I really would prefer to have my eye removed, over and done with. I'm 73 so, not as if I need to work, and don't enjoy driving anymore. Colour of eyes did not change but eyelid now is almost closed from drooping. Good luck.
In sorry to hear you’ve been through all this. 6 months to wait for urgent treatment isn’t good. I’m glad they are following that up for you. I totally understand what you’re saying about giving up with treatment. I worry about what my eyes will be like in 20 years time and although the trab brings the pressures down and helps in the long term it seems that more often then got, it comes with a new bag of problems. I have to rely on my glasses for short distance as well as long distance now, since my vision has blurred. I’m not sure if this is because of the trab or the needling. Apparently it will get better, but so far it has only got worse. Best of luck to you.
Thank you, good luck on this unpleasant journey, my "good eye " has been slightly blurry since diagnosed with Glaucoma in 2006, but the blurred vision in my, or what was my better eye only got worse with Trab surgery, so I am now going to have to wait for cataract surgery next year, trouble is I really need new glasses for reading etc, but the opticians say it would be a waste of money as it will not make any difference to the bad eye, so have to play the waiting gams, again.
Hi, I was only diagnosed in March this year, I haven’t had surgery but have to use drops to lower the pressure. I only have glaucoma in one eye and have noticed a change in the appearance of that eye, I was warned my eye colour could change and eyelashes become darker, thicker and longer. I have hazel eyes my right eye is now noticeably different, brown with long thick very black lashes, the eyelid also droops slightly. Other people have noticed too, so I know I’m not exaggerating it. I have an appointment on 30 December and will be asking about the droop as it really bothers me. I hope you get some better advice at your next appointment.
Thank you - it’s reassuring to find out it’s not in my head and that you were warned about the changes. I will talk to my consultant about it at my next appointment. My concern is that it’s only going to get worse. I’m only 35 and likely to need continuous treatment throughout my life. Best of luck to you with your eye.
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