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We are at Serious RISK more than Glaucoma

Question:

Fares, I also have had some of your concerns although I think the risk is minimal. Would it be too costly for the ophthalmologist or optometrist to replace the applanation tip after each patient? Do they make disposable tips? Jan "Farea Saref" <fa…@alphalink.com.au> wrote in message

news:3cb63ccc@news.alphalink.com.au… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We usually mention medications of Glaucoma , side effect of them ….etc, > but we forgot a very important > thing , it is the Risk of Infection during Checking Eye Pressure by either > ophthalmologist OR Optometrist. > How? When one of us goes to check his IOP there’s a tip that must be contact > with the Cornea. > This tip can transmitte very dangerous disease if not disinfected , > especially if the person forgets to > do so. About myself I bought this tip and I use it each time I check my IOP. > Any more details I welcome. > Fares

Response:

I have been diagnosed with G. since 1996…at 39 years of age. I have lost well over 95 percent of vision in the left eye…supposedly had lost over 90 at time of diagnosis. The right had lost about 65 at time of diagnosis. I had been seeing an Ophthalmologist every 8-10 months, sometimes more frequently for the 7 years prior to that time due to problems with eczema on my cornea…can you believe tht!! My questions…how does someone lose so much vision in such a short period…6-8months without any warning signs or hints that it may have been happening during regular checks….the Doc always measured pressures and checked cornea and retina at each 6-8 month interval. Is this not unusual…wouldn’t you think he would have seen something amiss? Another thing….a couple of years ago, I asked this ophthalmologist if I had cataracts in my eyes…couldn’t see a thing…he smartly replied….I’ll let you kniow if you have cataracts!!! Six weeks later, after seeing another doc, I had a trab and cataract removed. Can a cataract form to the state of needing surgury in six weeks? He also told me that severe…what I would imagine are similar or worse than migrain headaches could not be due to glaucoma…despite the fact that the pain originated behind the eye and I haven’t had one since the trab…. Do I need another eye specialist or can these things happen when under the care of an Ophthalmologist? Can’t get a straight answer from anyone in the medical field…they are too busy circling the wagons it seems… Does anyone have any insight into these issues? Bill of Soo

Response:

Bill, Also as a non-doctor, I totally agree with Donald Singleton’s reply to you. A visit to another ophth at this point would probably be a great idea.  At the very least, the visit may answer some of the questions you pose with regard to the rapid progression of your vision loss. Your visit should be free of any negative remarks about your current doctor so that a totally objective and non-defensive diagnosis can be made.  It’s basically like a 2nd opinion, and then you may have a better idea of what happened. As Don said, confidence in your doctor is an important component of your treatment. That said, I don’t have the rapid vision loss that you have experienced, but I sure have had rapid deterioration of my left optic nerve.  I recently posted a message about the trabeculectomy I will be undergoing on May 10th. Very briefly, in April 1998, I had NO glaucoma and two totally intact optic nerves at my regular 2-year exam with my eye doctor (I’m 63 years old now). In April 2000, I went for my regular exam again and complained that I needed stronger glasses. My eye doctor, who blessedly is also the glaucoma specialist in his group (I didn’t even know that at the time), took one look into my dilated eyes, did the pressure test, and immediately went into action. My left optic nerve was 95% scooped out and I had an IOP of 39+. Right eye also had glaucoma and pretty high IOP, but nerve was intact. He was stunned because glaucoma normally develops slowly over a period of years. There was no way of telling just how high the pressure had been during those 2 years between exams, but he said it had to have been much higher to do that sort of damage. P.S. 2 years later, two laser treatments later, every possible medication and combination of medications later, I am now going to have the trab in my L eye to hopefully save what’s left of the optic nerve.  Over the two years, the IOP was brought down to about 18, but he could not bring it down to the 14-16 range that he felt was safe, and now it’s starting to creep back up. Sometime in the future, the right eye will be done as well, but there’s no rush on that one. Visual fields were performed every 3 months during the past 2 years, and photo discs of the optic nerve were taken every 6 months. The visual fields were ok for the 1st year, but this 2nd year showed a mild, but steady deterioration. Because of his quick action, there has been no further deterioration of the optic nerve, but the medications are no longer effective enough, so the trab is a necessity. So you see, things can move pretty fast……so get yourself another opinion and the very best of luck to you. Marilyn "Donald Singleton" <donal…@sprynet.com> wrote in message

news:3CCE9283.9A748C8E@sprynet.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Bill, >    As a non-doctor, I can’t answer any medical questions, but as a long-time > glaucoma patient I can say I don’t think it’s ever a bad idea to get a second > opinion when you’re having serious questions or doubts about your > ophthalmologist.  Confidence is an important component of  treatment, and things > get depressing when you lose confidence that your doc knows what he’s doing. > See another doctor and try not to spend too much time telling him or her what > you think were the failings of your current doc — just go in as a new patient, > let him or her decide what tests are appropriate and take them.  (By the way, > one question that I did have while reading your post was whether the doctor did > regular visual field tests on you; my doctor does a field test at least once a > year, and would do it more often if he noticed any change in one of my regular > 4-month visits.) >      Best of luck to you. >      Don Singleton > Bill of Soo wrote: > > I have been diagnosed with G. since 1996…at 39 years of age. I have lost > > well over 95 percent of vision in the left eye…supposedly had lost over 90 > > at time of diagnosis. The right had lost about 65 at time of diagnosis. I > > had been seeing an Ophthalmologist every 8-10 months, sometimes more > > frequently for the 7 years prior to that time due to problems with eczema on > > my cornea…can you believe tht!! > > My questions…how does someone lose so much vision in such a short > > period…6-8months without any warning signs or hints that it may have been > > happening during regular checks….the Doc always measured pressures and > > checked cornea and retina at each 6-8 month interval. Is this not > > unusual…wouldn’t you think he would have seen something amiss? > > Another thing….a couple of years ago, I asked this ophthalmologist if I > > had cataracts in my eyes…couldn’t see a thing…he smartly replied….I’ll > > let you kniow if you have cataracts!!! Six weeks later, after seeing another > > doc, I had a trab and cataract removed. Can a cataract form to the state of > > needing surgury in six weeks? > > He also told me that severe…what I would imagine are similar or worse than > > migrain headaches could not be due to glaucoma…despite the fact that the > > pain originated behind the eye and I haven’t had one since the trab…. > > Do I need another eye specialist or can these things happen when under the > > care of an Ophthalmologist? Can’t get a straight answer from anyone in the > > medical field…they are too busy circling the wagons it seems… Does > > anyone have any insight into these issues? > > Bill of Soo

Response:

Bill,    As a non-doctor, I can’t answer any medical questions, but as a long-time glaucoma patient I can say I don’t think it’s ever a bad idea to get a second opinion when you’re having serious questions or doubts about your ophthalmologist.  Confidence is an important component of  treatment, and things get depressing when you lose confidence that your doc knows what he’s doing. See another doctor and try not to spend too much time telling him or her what you think were the failings of your current doc — just go in as a new patient, let him or her decide what tests are appropriate and take them.  (By the way, one question that I did have while reading your post was whether the doctor did regular visual field tests on you; my doctor does a field test at least once a year, and would do it more often if he noticed any change in one of my regular 4-month visits.)      Best of luck to you.      Don Singleton – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Bill of Soo wrote: > I have been diagnosed with G. since 1996…at 39 years of age. I have lost > well over 95 percent of vision in the left eye…supposedly had lost over 90 > at time of diagnosis. The right had lost about 65 at time of diagnosis. I > had been seeing an Ophthalmologist every 8-10 months, sometimes more > frequently for the 7 years prior to that time due to problems with eczema on > my cornea…can you believe tht!! > My questions…how does someone lose so much vision in such a short > period…6-8months without any warning signs or hints that it may have been > happening during regular checks….the Doc always measured pressures and > checked cornea and retina at each 6-8 month interval. Is this not > unusual…wouldn’t you think he would have seen something amiss? > Another thing….a couple of years ago, I asked this ophthalmologist if I > had cataracts in my eyes…couldn’t see a thing…he smartly replied….I’ll > let you kniow if you have cataracts!!! Six weeks later, after seeing another > doc, I had a trab and cataract removed. Can a cataract form to the state of > needing surgury in six weeks? > He also told me that severe…what I would imagine are similar or worse than > migrain headaches could not be due to glaucoma…despite the fact that the > pain originated behind the eye and I haven’t had one since the trab…. > Do I need another eye specialist or can these things happen when under the > care of an Ophthalmologist? Can’t get a straight answer from anyone in the > medical field…they are too busy circling the wagons it seems… Does > anyone have any insight into these issues? > Bill of Soo

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