The Boring Stuff
[s]Glaucoma is a group of ocular disorders with a multifactorial etiology, that has a characteristic pattern of retinal cell death often associated with increased eye pressure (Intraocular pressure, IOP).[/s]
From the simplified definition, you should know that increased IOP is not glaucoma, acute increased IOP doesn't cause glaucoma. The glaucoma damage occurs at the optic nerve head. This simply means that glaucoma is not just a simple disease, it has many causes, most times there is increased pressure and it cannot be cured!

If you have increased IOP without a glaucomatous appearance of the optic nerve head, then it is regarded as ocular hypertension.
To diagnose glaucoma, the pressure, the appearance of the nerve head and the visual field findings are relevant. The patient must have at least 2 of these 3 signs. The visual field finding is an important confirmatory test. someone with the nerve head changes but without either of the other two criteria is classed as a glaucoma suspect.

The damage caused is irreversible, the drugs given are to halt or decrease the rate of progression of the disease. The drugs cannot return lost vision. However, the progression is not always observable, an acute condition can cause glaucomatous nerve death and when that condition is resolved, the nerve death would not progress. So I like to describe glaucoma as potentially progressive. So we don't wait to see progression, instead we start treating right away.
Most (or all) classes of glaucoma drugs focus on reducing the pressure , because reduction can attenuate or halt the progression of normal tension and high pressure glaucoma.

Real life Questions

1. I'm taking my glaucoma drugs but my vision is still decreasing. Why?
Explanation
Glaucoma has an average age of onset of late 30s to early 40s. This period is also the age of onset of presbyopia. Secondly the part of vision that it affects is your peripheral vision, the part that you use to see objects on the sides. Therefore glaucoma damage cannot be observed by the patient except in the advanced stage. The patient's complaint is often due to presbyopia or something optoms call hyperopic shift or due to development of cataract. So you must never stop your drugs because you think they are not working or because your vision (esp near) is getting worse.
Another part of vision that may be affected is contrast sensitivity. This is why we see lots of patients that can read up to the bottom line on the charts but complain of always bumping into objects or inability to drive at night. Glaucoma reduces contrast sensitivity. Hence doctors should often check CS for patients with complaints in spite of normal acuity.

2. If drugs cannot return the vision, what about Surgery?
Explanation
Most of the drugs decrease pressure either by reducing production of aqueous or increasing outflow of aqueous humour. Surgery on the other hand puts a hole on the point of outflow to make aqueous leave faster, and pressure lower in turn.

3. The doctor says I have glaucoma and cataract too. That it is somehow..
Explanation
Cataract and glaucoma present a huge challenge for the clinician. First of all he has to ascertain the health of the retina and estimate the potential vision after cataract extraction. secondly the nature of the glaucoma would determine if the cataract can be extracted. Over maturity of the cataract can trigger an acute angle closure attack.

4. What causes glaucoma?
Explanation

#nowplaying God only knows - The beach boys

But seriously , no one knows. we only know some factors associated with it such as Intraocular pressure, elevated nitrogen oxide synthase, monosodium glutamate ( that stuff in indomie seasoning and Maggi cubes), unusual apoptotic activity if the RGC, prior use of steroids etc I assure you that all of the above are boring stuff, very boring! But we know there is a genetic factor...

5. Can I get glaucoma from kissing or sharing sharp objects?
Explanation
Yes, but only during public holidays. Nope just kidding.

6. I have been taking Timoptol and Slow-k. My new doctor placed me on Timolol but I think it doesn't work as good as Timoptol.
Explanation
In reality, timolol and timoptol contain exactly the same agent , Timolol maleate 0.5%. But timoptol is made by Med Reich in UK while timolol is made in India or Lagos. so I don't see why their efficacy should be different. I believe Pharmguru can help us understand this better, and also why Beecham amoxycillin seems better than Nigerian amoxil.
As for Slow-K , I don't understand the rationale of giving slow k to glaucoma patients. I believe an eye doctor in the house would shed light on this.

Glaucoma takes vision that cannot be recovered. That headache that starts from your eyes spreading up to your head, may be your saving grace. See a doctor tomorrow.

You can contribute, condemn or ask questions.


drsteriod
rexbuton
Optom
jauntty
optm
lademinus
algorithm

Right now I'm not ready for answering.

I don't prescribe Slow k, Eye anti-oxidants is better. If there are questions, I'd surely with help out from my lil knowledge and working experience

My mum has been using the drugs( xalatan, timolol, eye vital, vitamin c) that the doctor told her to be using. But immediately the xalatan finishes, she complains of seeing a rainbow thing when she looks at a light. My question is how long will she continue with the xalatan?

Ebonygift:
My mum has been using the drugs( xalatan, timolol, eye vital, vitamin c) that the doctor told her to be using. But immediately the xalatan finishes, she complains of seeing a rainbow thing when she looks at a light. My question is how long will she continue with the xalatan?

Probably forever cus there is a need to keep the eye pressure consistently with normal levels ... But she can be advised to do Trabeculectomy


Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure used in the treatment of glaucoma to relieve intraocular pressure by removing part of the eye's trabecular meshwork and adjacent structures

jauntty:
Probably forever cus there is a need to keep the eye pressure consistently with normal levels ... But she can be advised to do Trabeculectomy


Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure used in the treatment of glaucoma to relieve intraocular pressure by removing part of the eye's trabecular meshwork and adjacent structures

Thanks. Please how safe is the surgery i mean the chances because she is afraid of anything surgery after the one she did that has to do with removal of cataract

No surgery is 100% guaranteed but for Trabec, it's a routine surgery we do here at our hospital. The success rate depends on a lot of factors which will considered and discussed with her by the surgeon.

Let her have no fear

Hi jauntty, is it possible for one to see halos but have a normal IOP

There is a cure, But the price is Patience and Prayer. My dad was a beneficiary

infornirt, pls how do u mean?

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jauntty:
I don't prescribe Slow k, Eye anti-oxidants is better. If there are questions, I'd surely with help out from my lil knowledge and working experience

boss, I have blurry vision in my left and right eye... but its worse in the left eye that even glasses don't seem to help... glasses help the right eye but not perfectly .... I've had this for as long as I can remember... I'm now 21 and I'm really sad and depressed... can anything be done for the left eye or am I doomed to go blind?
rexbuton
drsteriod
rexbuton
Optom
jauntty
optm
lademinus
algorithm.
help!!!!

jamesbawa:

boss, I have blurry vision in my left and right eye... but its worse in the left eye that even glasses don't seem to help... glasses help the right eye but not perfectly .... I've had this for as long as I can remember... I'm now 21 and I'm really sad and depressed... can anything be done for the left eye or am I doomed to go blind?
rexbuton
drsteriod
rexbuton
Optom
jauntty
optm
lademinus
algorithm.
help!!!!

do not loose hope yet dear. what was the diagnosis given for your condition?

optm:
do not loose hope yet dear. what was the diagnosis given for your condition?

they say I have myopia but its high in the left eye

jamesbawa:

boss, I have blurry vision in my left and right eye... but its worse in the left eye that even glasses don't seem to help... glasses help the right eye but not perfectly .... I've had this for as long as I can remember... I'm now 21 and I'm really sad and depressed... can anything be done for the left eye or am I doomed to go blind?
rexbuton
drsteriod
rexbuton
Optom
jauntty
optm
lademinus
algorithm.
help!!!!

Where is your location

jauntty:
Where is your location

Bauchi

jamesbawa:

they say I have myopia but its high in the left eye

do not loose sleep over it. it's not as bad as the name appears. glasses would be helping you a great deal. discuss with you eye doctor and u'll be fine.

optm:
do not loose sleep over it. it's not as bad as the name appears. glasses would be helping you a great deal. discuss with you eye doctor and u'll be fine.

yes, I'm supposed to go and get glasses from the eye doc tomorrow... but glasses don't help the left eye, only the right... I've done some research and it seems I have amblyopia(lazy eye)... just want to no more about it

jamesbawa:

yes, I'm supposed to go and get glasses from the eye doc tomorrow... but glasses don't help the left eye, only the right... I've done some research and it seems I have amblyopia(lazy eye)... just want to no more about it

left for the doc to ascertain if there's any pathology or just amblyopia in that eye. let him discuss his findings with you.

optm:
left for the doc to ascertain if there's any pathology or just amblyopia in that eye. let him discuss his findings with you.

thanks.... had this for a long time tho'

jamesbawa:
thanks.... had this for a long time tho'

oh ok

jamesbawa:

boss, I have blurry vision in my left and right eye... but its worse in the left eye that even glasses don't seem to help... glasses help the right eye but not perfectly .... I've had this for as long as I can remember... I'm now 21 and I'm really sad and depressed... can anything be done for the left eye or am I doomed to go blind?
rexbuton
drsteriod
rexbuton
Optom
jauntty
optm
lademinus
algorithm.
help!!!!

I didn't see this for months. Hope you were able to get care

This latest research can cure your Glaucoma and reduce your eye pressure in just two days check here for free assessment and free PDF file in understanding the root cause of Glaucoma
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Ebonygift:
My mum has been using the drugs( xalatan, timolol, eye vital, vitamin c) that the doctor told her to be using. But immediately the xalatan finishes, she complains of seeing a rainbow thing when she looks at a light. My question is how long will she continue with the xalatan?

This latest research can cure your Glaucoma and reduce your eye pressure in just two days check here for free assessment and free PDF file in understanding the root cause of Glaucoma
https:///2G6rstbit.ly/2G6rst

jauntty:
Probably forever cus there is a need to keep the eye pressure consistently with normal levels ... But she can be advised to do Trabeculectomy


Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure used in the treatment of glaucoma to relieve intraocular pressure by removing part of the eye's trabecular meshwork and adjacent structures

I'm using timolol for glacuoma.is there a better one.or latest drug

Ebonygift:
Thanks. Please how safe is the surgery i mean the chances because she is afraid of anything surgery after the one she did that has to do with removal of cataract

how is your mums eye.I have glaucoma too but at early stage .I want to know if u found out more effective eye drops.

kingjoe:
how is your mums eye.I have glaucoma too but at early stage .I want to know if u found out more effective eye drops.

she has been on Xalatan and timolol eye drops to keep the IOP low