Glaucoma: Have just been diagnosed, wondering if... - Thyroid UK

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Glaucoma

Margo profile image
44 Replies

Have just been diagnosed, wondering if this is common with thyroid people?

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Margo profile image
Margo
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44 Replies
TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador

Sadly yes, there is an increased risk 🫤

There are a few papers and studies out there

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toTiggerMe

Thank you, thought so!

silverbelle51 profile image
silverbelle51 in reply toTiggerMe

Is it the thyroid issue or the Levothyroxine causing eye issues?

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply tosilverbelle51

I had a bit of a read around and it seems some point to levothyroxine use whereas other say people with glaucoma are more likely to then have thyroid issues which suggests they aren't already treated 🤷‍♀️

For me, my mother was an undiagnosed hypo and father had glaucoma but no real idea where either of them were in thyroid terms 🤨

ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

silverbelle51 profile image
silverbelle51 in reply toTiggerMe

My recommendation to anyone know why you are having the health issue . Why did your thyroid stop functioning well injury, illness or nutritional deficiency? All these drugs especially hormone replacement are powerful chemicals that can harm as much as they help . It is the painful lesson I learned.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply tosilverbelle51

Could not agree with you more.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply tosilverbelle51

For me it's put down to autoimmune but my Brother's and Sister don't have any antibodies and their thyroids have also failed 🤷‍♀️

"All these drugs especially hormone replacement are powerful chemicals that can harm as much as they help ."

I'd have to disagree with this statement as replacement hormones are just that and not a drug, yes they come with some excipients which can cause issue but they are not treating anything just replacing lacking hormones, which are indeed powerful and therefore a life without enough or too much of them is a miserable existence... balancing them is key along with tackling any other deficiencies or excesses

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

It is one of those things that seems to appear in waves of posts/replies.

You might find it interesting, even helpful, to read through some older posts. This link will find over a hundred.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Margo profile image
Margo in reply tohelvella

thank you

Cake-Maker profile image
Cake-Maker

Sorry to hear this Margo. Any family history?

Just about everything seems common with thyroid people. I have cataracts and an opthalmology appt next week for a tear in a retina. Eye problems do seem to be popular.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toCake-Maker

Yes that’s true! My father had it in later life, and I always remember how sore his eyes looked while taking the drops. He died at 86 and was still driving a year before. I intend to take an alternative route, and have been amazed at the information I have in just 18 hours.

Cake-Maker profile image
Cake-Maker in reply toMargo

Hope all goes well 😊

silverbelle51 profile image
silverbelle51 in reply toMargo

I use topical Castor oil around my eyes and lids seems to help with the dry eye that leads to some of the eye issues.

Cake-Maker profile image
Cake-Maker in reply tosilverbelle51

That’s a good tip. Thank you !

Margo profile image
Margo in reply tosilverbelle51

I have been looking at Castor oil, Barbara O'Neal recommends it. Dr Eric Berg reckons on CQ10 and Vitamin D. Have yet to read what Dr Mercola recommends, I believe there are answers out there.

Cake-Maker profile image
Cake-Maker in reply toMargo

Omega 3 recommended for dry eye associated with Sjrogrens

silverbelle51 profile image
silverbelle51 in reply toMargo

I do too. I got my idea on Rain Country a pod done by a lady named Heidi. I find she has been spot on about some of the herbal things she uses. I started applying topically for dry eye that was causing cloudy . I am not cured, but I think my vision is less cloudy . I blame it on the Levothyroxine which I recently read causes thinning of bones in seniors. I appreciate the sharing thank you

Margo profile image
Margo in reply tosilverbelle51

thank you for sharing

Regenallotment profile image
RegenallotmentAmbassador in reply toCake-Maker

Ditto at only 50 years young according to specsavers apparently I have early cataracts forming 🥺

A colleague with truly awful vision (lifelong) told me to go get checked when I was whining about not being able to see in the dark anymore, night driving is horrendous. NHS unlikely to treat as day vision is ok. £8000 of if I want UK varifocal lenses inserted privately. £3000 if I go to Prague, I can’t afford either 😠

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toRegenallotment

Oh dear that's awful!

Margo profile image
Margo

Thank you, so do I

Bertwills profile image
Bertwills

I’ve been diagnosed with it & cateracts too this year.

Margo profile image
Margo

Blimey that isn’t good.

Just looking at the glaucoma site, the amount of people saying that the procedures are painful, and they can’t exercise or do much for 6 - 8 weeks. No thanks, there must be a better way!

Cavapoochonowner profile image
Cavapoochonowner

Hello there, I had 2 cataracts and a detached retina long before my thyroid problems.They said it was an increased risk being so short sighted.However I was diagnosed with Graves disease in 2018 and also thyroid eye disease.I have had a thyroidectomy and take levothyroxine and was diagnosed with high eye pressures at one of my TED appointments .I take monopost eye drops every day and it is under control and my TED is now in remission.I do think my TED contributed to the high pressures because of the swelling.My dad has glaucoma though so it could be just a coincidence.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toCavapoochonowner

Thank you so much. Is Monopost a prescription medication?

Cavapoochonowner profile image
Cavapoochonowner in reply toMargo

Yes,it is prescribed by the glaucoma clinic at the hospital.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toCavapoochonowner

thank you

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toMargo

The active ingredient of Monopost is Latanoprost - and there are several UK licensed products under various names and with various formulations:

products.mhra.gov.uk/search...

Margo profile image
Margo in reply tohelvella

Thank you, will take a look.

Daisywhoopsa profile image
Daisywhoopsa

do remember that people are more likely to post a negative response on a forum than a positive. Personally I was diagnosed about 11 yrs ago with acute open angle glaucoma in both eyes- as did my father. I also have Hashimotos- 30+ yrs. I use drops every day to slow the glaucoma, have also had a surgery to one eye for glaucoma and cataract surgeries to both eyes just this year. Some drops irritate but it’s just a case of getting different ones- without preservatives. The surgeries were no big deal - yes inconvenient for a week or so with the drops regimes to heal and prevent infection but not ‘painful’. For me maintaining what sight I have is paramount so I do as my eye consultant tells me rather than go blind. There is no cure for glaucoma - only treatments to slow the progress of it.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toDaisywhoopsa

Thank you for your interesting reply. Which medication is without preservatives?

Daisywhoopsa profile image
Daisywhoopsa in reply toMargo

I would check with your prescriber or pharmacist as it depends what you are prescribed- there are lots of different drops.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toDaisywhoopsa

thank you

Agitator23 profile image
Agitator23

I have had glaucoma for years. It's been kept under observation and I used to use eye drops but didn't get on with them.

Moorfields Hospital offered me selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which was a very quick, painless procedure. This has allowed more drainage from the eye ball and reduced my eye pressures. I've not used eye drops since then.

My pressures are creeping up now and I'm hoping to repeat the laser procedure at some point.

The glaucoma has not impacted my eye sight, thankfully. (I do have loads of other eye issues, however 😏).

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toAgitator23

Thank you, very interesting.

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise

I have to have my eyes checked every year because both of my parents, and recently my sister were diagnosed with glaucoma. Interestingly my aunt, my dads sister was hypothyroid too.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toEllie-Louise

Yes, I think there's definitely a connection.

Sunflower535 profile image
Sunflower535

Margo - so sorry to hear that you have just been diagnosed with Glaucoma. My mum had it and now I am checked regularly for it too, but so far have escaped. My mums eyes were so sore, but knowing what I know now - being only diagnosed with thyroid issues myself last year - I think my mum had thyroid problems too but was never diagnosed - she could not be warmed and slept continually. Sadly she passed away three years ago.

Do hope you get the help you need to avoid too much discomfort.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toSunflower535

Thank you, it does seem to run in families, and it sounds like your mum definitely had a thyroid problem as my late mum did. Trouble is at 72 it gets harder and harder to bat away problems, but there is a lot of fight left in the old biddy yet.......

Ontherun81 profile image
Ontherun81

Hi Margo

I too had a retinal tear in August and initially told the start of cataracts in both eyes but now told only in right eye havee they detected cloudiness. Eye consultant told me definitely thyroid related.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toOntherun81

That doesn't sound too jolly!

I have had 5 vitreous detachments .

I suppose I am lucky to have escaped as long as I have.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56

Hi Margo , I was diagnosed with it just at the start of Covid. I had slow-growing cataracts for years and then my left eye went suddenly. I woke one morning with an awful headache. Something I rarely get, and then found my blood-pressure was sky high. I went to A & E when told to by 111 and after being diagnosed as soon as I saw a Doctor, was given an injection that took 20 minutes. The headache slowly vanished in this time and my BP lowered. I had to go back next morning and have laser treatment to both eyes. Within a couple of months, I was in having the cataract done in that eye. Earlier this year I had my right eye done. Wish you well with it Margo .

Ruby1 profile image
Ruby1

My father had glaucoma and it runs in families - once you are over 40 you get free eye tests if you have glaucoma in the family. Two of my sisters currently have drops to keep the pressure down, but neither of them are hypothyroid like me. My pressures are fine so far.

I was always amazed that the opticians didn't ask for proof when I was getting free eye tests, however when they look inside your eye, they can see if you have the physical attributes that make glaucoma likely.

Do be diligent if you are prescribed drops. A neighbour of mine has just had to have an op after not realising the importance of the drops.

Margo profile image
Margo in reply toRuby1

Thanks Ruby.

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