Lupus and glaucoma.

[Corrosion]

Hi All,

Has anyone got lupus and glaucoma? I was diagnosed last year with lupus and have had glaucoma since my early twenties. Although the pressure in my eye is not outstandingly high my eye doc is worried about it because of my youngish age. I therefore have to have an eye op to create another channel for the fluid to drain out of my eye.

My eye doc did say that the lupus could be contributing to the pressure as a result from the inflammation. However, surgery is the best option for the long term.

I was just wondering if there is anyone in the same boat to share their experiences of both these diseases.

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Corrosion. I also have lupus (sle) and glaucoma. I was diagnosed with lupus 4 years ago. I had fluctuating eye pressures since the age of 20 and was considered a "glaucoma suspect". I saw the ophthalmologist regularly during this time, every 6 months to once a year depending on my pressure reading. Once it was consistently high and my ophthalmologist noticed changes with the optic disc/nerve, he decided it was time for me to use eye drops to decrease the pressure. That was about 5 years ago when I was 39 years old. I'm now 44 years old.

He tried doing laser surgery on my right eye "so that I wouldn't have to use drops for the rest of my life" since he also considered me too "young" to have to worry about using drops for the rest of my life. It didn't work. He was very disappointed. I continue to use eye drops (Travatan Z) in both eyes at bedtime. He just recently added an additional drop for my right eye because the pressure isn't as low as he'd like it. It's not outstandingly high either, it's just not as low as my left eye. I use the new drop (Alphagan P) in the morning and evening in my right eye only and I use my other eye drops (Travatan Z) in both eyes at bedtime. I see him in a month to see if using this second eye drop has decreased my pressure at all. This is his second attempt trying to lower the pressure by using a second eye drop in my right eye. The first attempt was with "Azopt" for 1 month. Didn't work. The eye drop I'm trying now is called "Alphagan P".

I also wonder if Lupus has anything to do with my glaucoma. My ophthalmologist doesn't know either. I hope my story has helped you. At least you now know that the surgery doesn't always work. I suspect this may be because of lupus.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Corrosion. I forgot to mention that I also have a corneal dystrophy. This could be the reason why my glaucoma laser surgery didn't work. My doc doesn't know. I hope your surgery works for you. Don't give up hope. Please let me know the outcome of your surgery. Best wishes.

[Susim77 in reply to Hidden]

Hi. I'm under investigation for lupus. Tick all the boxes. Flooring routine eye check opthamology refers suggests glocoma. When I asked opthologist if Lupus was a caustic factor she said no... However having read a few forums it would appear a lot of people with this condition seem to be having similar problems.