Quote:
Originally Posted by TrudyM
Has anyone ever heard that far sighted people have a risk for a different kind of glaucoma that can strike suddenly? I went to the eye doctor today and he said that the way far sighted people’s eyes are built the kind of glaucoma they can get can be sudden as the iris can be pushed up to block the fluid drain and the fluid will then build up fast. He wants to laser a hole in my iris to allow fluid to reach the drain as a preventive measure as my iris is already pushed forward despite my having normal eye pressure. Has anyone had this done. It sounds a little scary.  The doc says it is a simple procedure and no big deal. |
Trudy - What you are describing is called angle closure glaucoma, or acute glaucoma. It is related to the structure of the eye and is more common in farsighted people. Remember that we are talking farsighted, not presbyopic. Presbyopia is the condition we reach in our 40's and 50's where we have to go to bifocals or reading glasses. Farsighted is different and, like nearsightedness, may be present all your life.
A farsighted eye is typically shorter in length than a normal or nearsighted eye, so the internal structures are closer together. In some farsighted eyes, the structures near the drainage channels for internal fluid can block the drainage, so the pressure rises quickly and suddenly resulting in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. Why it may happen overnight is because, at night or in the dark, your pupil opens up like a folding door and gathers near the drainage channel, increasing the chance of blocking some or all of it. What your surgeon wants to do is use a laser to open a small pathway to allow fluid to drain from the back of the iris to the front. It is a secondary way for the fluid to drain, reducing dramatically the risk of angle closure and damage to vision. The procedure is quick and painless.
Gracie - A competent optometrist will evaluate your eyes for internal and external disease such as the above during a routine exam. And they are trained and licensed to treat many eye diseases short of surgery. I know in years gone by there was emphasis mostly in glasses, but that has changed dramatically in the last 20-25 years. Certainly go to an MD if your are more comfortable there, but don't rule out an OD. How do I know? That was my profession for over 30 years. The last 26 years of practice was in a medical group where optometrists saw all eye patients, referring to the ophthalmology department only those who required surgical intervention or treatments outside of our licensing, such as intraocular injections or laser treatment.