No just prescription stuff... With it being decriminalized here, it's pretty easy to get so I don't need you!
Glaucoma ??
- Thread starter 97tbird
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update, well, kinda:
I can still see
i had my records from my previous appt ( 1 yr ago: everything normal; or at least he thought so) transferred to my 2nd (current doc); he should get them in a few days (idk for sure if the old doc did any photos of the nerve like the current one did, but if they did, i guess they would help the current one to get an idea?)...the old doc did the pressure test with the air puff method. (current one did tonometer), so Idk if those are comparable, really.
Next appt. with current doc is to to the HRT and the pachymetry (measure thickness of cornea)...i guess he will talk to me about my records from old doc at that time....or i may call him and see what he thinks...
current doc assured me today, again, on the phone (i had to call his place to let them know that my old record will be arriving, and for some reason he answered himself) that I needn't worry, he's just being careful, and that people who go blind from glaucoma in the US these days are only people who completely abandon/never start treatment, and never keep their appt's.... made me feel a bit better... even if I have it, i guess they caught it early ....
i just have to find a way not to despair by thinking all doom/gloom ....
I can still see
i had my records from my previous appt ( 1 yr ago: everything normal; or at least he thought so) transferred to my 2nd (current doc); he should get them in a few days (idk for sure if the old doc did any photos of the nerve like the current one did, but if they did, i guess they would help the current one to get an idea?)...the old doc did the pressure test with the air puff method. (current one did tonometer), so Idk if those are comparable, really.
Next appt. with current doc is to to the HRT and the pachymetry (measure thickness of cornea)...i guess he will talk to me about my records from old doc at that time....or i may call him and see what he thinks...
current doc assured me today, again, on the phone (i had to call his place to let them know that my old record will be arriving, and for some reason he answered himself) that I needn't worry, he's just being careful, and that people who go blind from glaucoma in the US these days are only people who completely abandon/never start treatment, and never keep their appt's.... made me feel a bit better... even if I have it, i guess they caught it early ....
i just have to find a way not to despair by thinking all doom/gloom ....
97tbird... You will be fine... Those disorders are rare... And think of how many people are in your country and how many have this problem... See now don't you feel better?
weird : went to class today: topic: GLAUCOMA !! [censored]!
(lecture says Prognosis is "excellent" with treatment, though)
(lecture says Prognosis is "excellent" with treatment, though)
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
update, well, kinda:
the old doc did the pressure test with the air puff method. (current one did tonometer), so Idk if those are comparable, really.
My doc tells me the puff test is pretty crude. At the least hint of anything he switches to a more accurate method.
update, well, kinda:
the old doc did the pressure test with the air puff method. (current one did tonometer), so Idk if those are comparable, really.
My doc tells me the puff test is pretty crude. At the least hint of anything he switches to a more accurate method.
I talked to the Prof at the end of the glaucoma lecture in class today, and he said (in response to my question) even if I do get fully diagnosed with Glaucoma, I don't need to drop out, find a new husband for my wife and and/or kill myself because it is easily manageable these days with proper meds made me feel good.
just learned that another guy in my class (he was also waiting to talk to prof) also got put in the "risk for glaucoma" category; only due to pressure, though (same pressure as mine); no optic nerve shape prob's.
he will be getting checked too in the coming months/yrs...with pachymetry, optic nerve pics, etc ...he's only 24!
(btw, same doc)
just learned that another guy in my class (he was also waiting to talk to prof) also got put in the "risk for glaucoma" category; only due to pressure, though (same pressure as mine); no optic nerve shape prob's.
he will be getting checked too in the coming months/yrs...with pachymetry, optic nerve pics, etc ...he's only 24!
(btw, same doc)
well, shame on me:
I learned something rather embarrassing today
My current Dr is NOT an ophthalmologist, he's an optometrist!! I was sure he was an ophthalmologist, but it seems I was mistaken !!!
so I guess I will have to get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway (like many here suggested)
I learned something rather embarrassing today
My current Dr is NOT an ophthalmologist, he's an optometrist!! I was sure he was an ophthalmologist, but it seems I was mistaken !!!
so I guess I will have to get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway (like many here suggested)
GOOD LUCK!
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Originally Posted By: 97tbird
well, shame on me:
I learned something rather embarrassing today
My current Dr is NOT an ophthalmologist, he's an optometrist!! I was sure he was an ophthalmologist, but it seems I was mistaken !!!
so I guess I will have to get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway (like many here suggested)
That's a bad, inattentive T-bird!
Have you been...
?
well, shame on me:
I learned something rather embarrassing today
My current Dr is NOT an ophthalmologist, he's an optometrist!! I was sure he was an ophthalmologist, but it seems I was mistaken !!!
so I guess I will have to get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway (like many here suggested)
That's a bad, inattentive T-bird!
Have you been...
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
well, shame on me:
I learned something rather embarrassing today
My current Dr is NOT an ophthalmologist, he's an optometrist!! I was sure he was an ophthalmologist, but it seems I was mistaken !!!
so I guess I will have to get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway (like many here suggested)
Your optometrist is 110% qualified to treat the condition. However, you dont have glaucoma. It hasnt been confirmed yet. And even if it is confirmed, it generally takes a long time to cause problems. Most of the time patients are monitored for a while, and if changes occur, treatment can be initiated. You are younger than the average glaucoma pts, though it is common in african americans and asians, especially if nearsighted.
There's no need to see the ophthalmologist unless you need surgery. Your particular optometrist is treating you exactly how an ophthalmologist would. He is up on the treatments if he's got an HRT and pachymeter. It could just be that your corneas are thick and that your pressures are actually calibrated at normal. Lots of people have odd looking optic nerves and never develop glaucoma. This is probably why your previous doc didnt sweat it. You are a glaucoma suspect, not a glaucoma pt. Dont worry about it. Stress wont affect your eye pressure either. Blood pressure, yes. Eye pressure, not so much.
well, shame on me:
I learned something rather embarrassing today
My current Dr is NOT an ophthalmologist, he's an optometrist!! I was sure he was an ophthalmologist, but it seems I was mistaken !!!
so I guess I will have to get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway (like many here suggested)
Your optometrist is 110% qualified to treat the condition. However, you dont have glaucoma. It hasnt been confirmed yet. And even if it is confirmed, it generally takes a long time to cause problems. Most of the time patients are monitored for a while, and if changes occur, treatment can be initiated. You are younger than the average glaucoma pts, though it is common in african americans and asians, especially if nearsighted.
There's no need to see the ophthalmologist unless you need surgery. Your particular optometrist is treating you exactly how an ophthalmologist would. He is up on the treatments if he's got an HRT and pachymeter. It could just be that your corneas are thick and that your pressures are actually calibrated at normal. Lots of people have odd looking optic nerves and never develop glaucoma. This is probably why your previous doc didnt sweat it. You are a glaucoma suspect, not a glaucoma pt. Dont worry about it. Stress wont affect your eye pressure either. Blood pressure, yes. Eye pressure, not so much.
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Thanks, FL-400s, AND ALL OTHERS, too 
FL400s, you seem well versed in Glaucoma; may i know how? I might have more "?"s for you.
FL400s, you seem well versed in Glaucoma; may i know how? I might have more "?"s for you.
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Originally Posted By: FL-400S
Stress wont affect your eye pressure either.
It depends on who you ask. Just because it's not an accepted fact by the local medical establishment, it's not necessarily true or false.
A study conducted by the Marburg University Eye Clinic showed a correlation between stress and IOP. Stress caused by math tests and noise caused a rise in IOP. Music, autogenic training, and hypnosis have been shown to lower the IOP. Psychoneuroimmunologists offers an explanation: stress, which raises cortisol and adrenaline levels, affects not only blood vessels (blood pressure), but affects also the endocrine system.
It's also been shown that people with hypertension more frequently have ocular hypertension (elevated IOP) compared to people are who are not suffering from hypertension. From my own experience, which involved massive, temporary (for a year or so) stress, ocular hypertension, with which was diagnosed at the time, the link is clear. My IOP returned to normal once my stress level went down. My eye pressure went from the highest daily measured 24 mm Hg down to the highest daily measured 15 mm Hg -- all without any medication. For a year I went to my ophthalmologist once a month for tests, observation, and evaluation. Do not underestimate the power of peace of mind.
Stress wont affect your eye pressure either.
It depends on who you ask. Just because it's not an accepted fact by the local medical establishment, it's not necessarily true or false.
A study conducted by the Marburg University Eye Clinic showed a correlation between stress and IOP. Stress caused by math tests and noise caused a rise in IOP. Music, autogenic training, and hypnosis have been shown to lower the IOP. Psychoneuroimmunologists offers an explanation: stress, which raises cortisol and adrenaline levels, affects not only blood vessels (blood pressure), but affects also the endocrine system.
It's also been shown that people with hypertension more frequently have ocular hypertension (elevated IOP) compared to people are who are not suffering from hypertension. From my own experience, which involved massive, temporary (for a year or so) stress, ocular hypertension, with which was diagnosed at the time, the link is clear. My IOP returned to normal once my stress level went down. My eye pressure went from the highest daily measured 24 mm Hg down to the highest daily measured 15 mm Hg -- all without any medication. For a year I went to my ophthalmologist once a month for tests, observation, and evaluation. Do not underestimate the power of peace of mind.
bummer, guys ... I think.
UPDATE:
had cornea thickness done today: 512 on both
normal is 550
so I have thin corneas, which is bad.
BUT pressure was 18 today; (last time about 3 wks ago, it was 21). but I guess corrected for the thin cornea it will be about 20 ...
wonder why the difference from 21 to 18 in the pressure...different person did the pressure test today...
and how much does the pachymetry (cornea thickness measurement) depend on the person who does it? after all, he touches the eye with some instrument, and he was just a technician/assistant...wonder if it differs (another reason to get a 2nd opinion ??)
Also did an HRT (image of the optic nerve), and both optic nerves look slightly cupped (already knew last time). This is the 3D image that the this "doc" would monitor every 6 months or so to see if there are any changes...I still hope very much, that my optic nerves just look like that and won't change much.
HOWEVER, i was able to check off one fear I had (the worst):
the records from old doc (1 yr ago) came in, and he did notice "physiological cupping" at that time; just never told me ...I wonder why. That's all he wrote on my chart. (he only did the optic nerve photo, not HRT image)
I was afraid that he (old doc) saw a normal optic nerve 1 yr ago and now I have cupping, and it had "cupped" so much in ONE year; well at least it was there that time, too ...
Optometrist was not there today, but he's gonna look at all that and call me back pretty soon and tell me what he thinks.
I think I will get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway...
I am trying to OPTImistic, and think that glaucoma is very treatable and lots of people have it, and if I manage it, I won't go blind...
and most of all, my optic nerve didn't cup that much within one year ...that would've been bad, if it did.
Just wanted to let you guys know.
will update again when the "Dr" calls. I think he'd want me to start treatment. (perhaps not, perhaps he'd want to see the HRT image again in 6 mo and start treatment/drops only if he sees changes??? idk)
UPDATE:
had cornea thickness done today: 512 on both
so I have thin corneas, which is bad.
BUT pressure was 18 today; (last time about 3 wks ago, it was 21). but I guess corrected for the thin cornea it will be about 20 ...
wonder why the difference from 21 to 18 in the pressure...different person did the pressure test today...
and how much does the pachymetry (cornea thickness measurement) depend on the person who does it? after all, he touches the eye with some instrument, and he was just a technician/assistant...wonder if it differs (another reason to get a 2nd opinion ??)
Also did an HRT (image of the optic nerve), and both optic nerves look slightly cupped (already knew last time). This is the 3D image that the this "doc" would monitor every 6 months or so to see if there are any changes...I still hope very much, that my optic nerves just look like that and won't change much.
HOWEVER, i was able to check off one fear I had (the worst):
the records from old doc (1 yr ago) came in, and he did notice "physiological cupping" at that time; just never told me ...I wonder why. That's all he wrote on my chart. (he only did the optic nerve photo, not HRT image)
I was afraid that he (old doc) saw a normal optic nerve 1 yr ago and now I have cupping, and it had "cupped" so much in ONE year; well at least it was there that time, too ...
Optometrist was not there today, but he's gonna look at all that and call me back pretty soon and tell me what he thinks.
I think I will get a 2nd opinion from an ophthalmologist anyway...
I am trying to OPTImistic, and think that glaucoma is very treatable and lots of people have it, and if I manage it, I won't go blind...
and most of all, my optic nerve didn't cup that much within one year ...that would've been bad, if it did.
Just wanted to let you guys know.
will update again when the "Dr" calls. I think he'd want me to start treatment. (perhaps not, perhaps he'd want to see the HRT image again in 6 mo and start treatment/drops only if he sees changes??? idk)
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Originally Posted By: 97tbird
BUT pressure was 18 today; (last time about 3 wks ago, it was 21). but I guess corrected for the thin cornea it will be about 20 ...
wonder why the difference from 21 to 18 in the pressure
Was IOP measured at the same time of day both times? IOP varies considerably during a 24 hour period. Having measured pressure only twice over a few weeks isn't a very accurate method of establishing a baseline.
After I had my IOP initially checked, I had to go back for a number of pressure checks in a row. If I remember correctly they checked the IOP in the morning and mid-afternoon every day for 3 or 4 days in a row. After that they did a pressure check every 3 months to monitor any gross changes.
BUT pressure was 18 today; (last time about 3 wks ago, it was 21). but I guess corrected for the thin cornea it will be about 20 ...
wonder why the difference from 21 to 18 in the pressure
Was IOP measured at the same time of day both times? IOP varies considerably during a 24 hour period. Having measured pressure only twice over a few weeks isn't a very accurate method of establishing a baseline.
After I had my IOP initially checked, I had to go back for a number of pressure checks in a row. If I remember correctly they checked the IOP in the morning and mid-afternoon every day for 3 or 4 days in a row. After that they did a pressure check every 3 months to monitor any gross changes.
The time of the day was about same (1 hr difference maybe), but I had a lot of sleep last night ...
previous time I did an all-nighter for an exam...
oh god I am getting all doom/gloom again
previous time I did an all-nighter for an exam...
oh god I am getting all doom/gloom again
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You worrywart. Relax and get a proper amount of sleep.
hehe ..I'll try my best.
so you don't think my thinner (than normal) corneas are reason for a doom/gloom episode? I mean, they're 2 deviations thinner...
so you don't think my thinner (than normal) corneas are reason for a doom/gloom episode? I mean, they're 2 deviations thinner...
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I don't know if thinner than usual corneas are a problem. I do know that people who have been wearing rigid contact lenses for many years have corneas that keep getting thinner. It does not normally seem to cause issues.
yeah thinner corneas mean IOP is false high, so my measured IOP of 18 today will be corrected up to 20 or 21.
(depending on what the "norm" thickness is, most doc's think it's 550 microns, but some a lot of important med sites state it as 525 !!!)
without cornea thickness measurement IOP is totally useless.
But it seems there people with even like 450 micron corneas and pressures close to 30 UNcorrected who take meds and still can see...
I also joined a decent (looks like) forum for glaucoma patients where pts and MDs share and discuss their experiences, much like bitog.
(depending on what the "norm" thickness is, most doc's think it's 550 microns, but some a lot of important med sites state it as 525 !!!)
without cornea thickness measurement IOP is totally useless.
But it seems there people with even like 450 micron corneas and pressures close to 30 UNcorrected who take meds and still can see...
I also joined a decent (looks like) forum for glaucoma patients where pts and MDs share and discuss their experiences, much like bitog.
Originally Posted By: moribundman
... eye pressure is greatly influenced by your state of mind. Stress can raise the eye pressure dramatically!
Now wonder my co-workers eyes sometimes bug out when I am hassling them. Have you ever seen anyone get so angry they blew out their eyes?
... eye pressure is greatly influenced by your state of mind. Stress can raise the eye pressure dramatically!
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