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new need input

Question:

hi i have a question maybe you can help me with my last visit to the opthamologist i was told by him in a arupt manner that he saw something in my eyes that was characteristic of glaucoma, i was stunned because he never said anything on my previous visits (went to him because of problems with hypo thyroidism) anyway passed all test given , pressure was i believe around 17.He did not make a big deal out of it, and said lets just go with borderline glaucoma for now and i will see you in 1yr and left the room. so now i am worried i go to a friend of mine who is a very good optomotrist and he doesnt see or say anything about glaucoma and he gave me the exact same tests the opthamologist did. However in the report sent to him FROM the opthamologist the only he said was this—mild discupping? mean anything? sorry so long and please forgive my errors typing isnt one of my best abilities pschmetz

Response:

Gorgo inquired about a recent diagnosis of "borderline glaucoma." Also mentioned was a history of hypothyroidism and disk cupping. I’m sure one of the professionals who visit this newsgroup will have helpful comments to offer, but a couple of things come to my mind in the meantime. First, I would not discount the significance of the low thyroid condition–this may be an important clue. Thyroid problems and glaucoma or glaucoma-like situations can go together. It would seem wise to deal effectively with the thyroid situation, which, by the way, may be simply due to a deficiency of dietary iodine. (Note: DIETARY iodine, as from seafoods, iodized salt, produce grown in iodine-rich soils, etc.–medicinal supplements of iodine can be highly toxic and should be used only under a competent doctor’s very close supervision.) Second, I would want to know exactly what my "cup to disk ratio" was. Normal is around .3–if it is .4, then that may not be of too great a concern–but if it is .8, that would be something else. I would also want to know if my "angles" appeared normal, which have an effect on pressure regulation. It would also seem that a "field test" might be in order, where defects in vision may be identified. With these unknowns, even though your pressure appears to be around normal, waiting a year before further checking seems too long. (Not a professional response.)

Response:

Hello Gorgo, You mention tests but you don’t say whether they included perimetry (field of vision testing). If that was included and no problem was identified, the conclusion must be that your optic discs look a little odd to your ophthalmologist. Halterb made some important points in his post which I won’t repeat here but it should be remembered that the examination of the optic disc is at best largely subjective and that many discs can look suspicious without being glaucomatous (likewise they can appear normal and still be subject to early stage glaucoma). The field of vision test is vital in a case such as this and careful monitoring will also be necessary to detect the earliest possible stage of the condition should it develop in the future. David Wright MSAE Chief Executive, International Glaucoma Association While we are pleased to offer the above information, it is not possible for the International Glaucoma Association to advise on an individual patient’s eye condition or treatment as this has to be the role of their own doctor or eye specialist who knows the full details of their particular case. IGA Web Page – http://www.iga.org.uk/home.htm ———- In article <nIWH3.903$PW4.4…@newsfeed.slurp.net>, "Gorgo" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<g…@forcomm.net> wrote: >hi i have a question maybe you can help me with my last visit to the >opthamologist >i was told by him in a arupt manner that he saw something in my eyes that >was >characteristic of glaucoma, i was stunned because he never said anything on >my >previous visits (went to him because of problems with hypo thyroidism) >anyway >passed all test given , pressure was i believe around 17.He did not make a >big deal out of it, and said lets just go with borderline glaucoma for now >and i will see you in 1yr and left the room. so now i am worried i go to a >friend of mine who is a very good optomotrist and he doesnt see or say >anything about glaucoma and he gave me the exact same tests the >opthamologist did. However in the report sent to him FROM >the opthamologist the only he said was this—mild discupping? mean >anything? >sorry so long and please forgive my errors typing isnt one of my best >abilities >pschmetz

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